tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9439269707579254992024-03-05T01:53:41.777-08:00The Allan Family BlogChris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-1026129777030505652020-12-18T08:14:00.000-08:002020-12-18T08:14:12.364-08:00Allan Family Year End Update 2020<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t’s been a long strange year for all of us. Our sincere
hope is that even if you are not too happy, you are at the very least healthy
and safe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The past year in Pine Grove has been spent, for the most
part, on house building. At least six months work remains until we can consider
this project “done”; however, strides have been made. The interior is
completely sheet rocked and painted. Rita and Emily spent the weeks prior to
Thanksgiving getting the bamboo flooring down on the main floor. Kitchen
cabinets are all but complete, save a countertop which is on order. The major
accomplishment has been installation of the downstairs lavatory, giving Chris
and Rita two bathrooms at their disposal for the first time since 1989! The
kitchen sink is now installed, negating having to wash dishes down in the barn
sink. Sleeping accommodations are still in the little house at the top of the
property, for now, at least until the county finals our permit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rita soldiers on for Caltrans. She is looking forward to
retiring in approximately four years. She may have a bit of the short-timer’s
syndrome. Work on the house takes up every other waking moment. We have stayed on
the property without venturing too far out since March, which I assume is the
same story for many of you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anne gave us some big news recently, she is now engaged to
our soon-to-be son in law, Jack. Wedding preparations are being made in broad
terms for now. They are saving up for a wedding at the old Girl Scout camp in Idyllwild
a couple of years from now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been
lucky enough to be able to work from home this whole time. She is still with
Cartoon Network working as a Production Coordinator on Craig of the Creek. Jack
along with the cats, Jojo an Pippin, keep her company.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Emily has been on the unemployment rolls since Disneyland
closed. She was able to spend most of the summer in Pine Grove with her
parents, building a sound recording booth for her voice acting work. The build
took over a month, as well as a couple days of installation down in Anaheim
with her parents. Emily is weighing her options, but with her sunny
disposition, she will come out of this just fine.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chris hasn’t been doing too much other than painting walls,
trimming-out doors and windows, and installing fixtures. He has taken on the
role of fundraising chair for the local non-profit railroad group, but time to
devote to that is hard to come by. Hopefully next year things will slow down
enough to be able spend more time raising funds (we’ll see!). Chris also looks
forward to starting the build on the O scale model railroad in the barn next
year, once most of our living room furniture is moved into the new house.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kona the dog is a bit confused as to why we are spending so
much time in the new house. She is slowly getting acclimated and enjoys laying
in front of the gas stove. Some days she just lays up on the hill overlooking
the property, waiting for squirrels to come out of the trees so she can chase
them back up. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s 2020 in a nutshell. Everyone out there stay safe, get
your shots when they come available, and keep in touch with those you cannot
physically visit with. Love to all. See you next year!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlQpuyvQX78Q76Evuih8xGNE2_v_E8_FX6SkbIBMjsPnI6u4mZIXtgD_ASgm-FWPuceuYOcJ6l-xiirtAV1SRULllpOSRA-8sdtNQTO5Xwo05C4AP0y2YY7YzThrK0Dl5npG-tJW_egwr/s1440/98279786_10217278650573808_1068183719707148288_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlQpuyvQX78Q76Evuih8xGNE2_v_E8_FX6SkbIBMjsPnI6u4mZIXtgD_ASgm-FWPuceuYOcJ6l-xiirtAV1SRULllpOSRA-8sdtNQTO5Xwo05C4AP0y2YY7YzThrK0Dl5npG-tJW_egwr/w298-h400/98279786_10217278650573808_1068183719707148288_o.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Chris, Rita & Kona</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-22160642469106952112019-11-30T12:15:00.001-08:002019-12-02T08:20:00.605-08:00Allan Family Year End Update 2019<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>nother year is behind us. We accomplish a lot in our lives, and got a bit further down the road on our projects. It is our hope that all of you had a great year full of all the things that make life worth living.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ukal9FNg01IOtoXYVDCyzhVHDacSY2OgLB9RSABsm3cDyVMIE2QCG9JjHQmA6bkB7TmYiVH7yG3QGdl8vIMXhS8SKB8yK0XQNGky7VDINFJ6xD0Tlp_-srBmnaiKXoErs-SLBqGtNPE/s1600/20191130_112823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1446" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ukal9FNg01IOtoXYVDCyzhVHDacSY2OgLB9RSABsm3cDyVMIE2QCG9JjHQmA6bkB7TmYiVH7yG3QGdl8vIMXhS8SKB8yK0XQNGky7VDINFJ6xD0Tlp_-srBmnaiKXoErs-SLBqGtNPE/s200/20191130_112823.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Chris and Rita's main project continues to be the construction of their house in Pine Grove. Early in the year we finished off the exterior, so it at least looks like a house from the outside. The only big items still to accomplish are the garage doors, which have been on order from Home Depot for two months, along with a ceiling and railing for the front porch. A great deal has been achieved on the interior, including 95 percent of the plumbing, which includes all doodads associated with that like the hot water heater, fire sprinkler system, and even a hot water recirculating pump. Our friends Roger and Gloria from Woodland helped us cut a ditch down from the water tank, and now the house is hooked up to the water supply. Rita is working her way through the electrical. The hardest part with wiring is figuring out the codes and where all the fancy switches need to be. Pressing on through the winter and into the Spring of next year should see us actually getting some insulation in as well as the A/C and heat. After that comes the dreaded drywall. Stay tuned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rita with her boss accepting a <br />
Certificate of Achievement for online training.</td></tr>
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Rita is counting down to retirement in 2025. The best part about her Caltrans job is she gets to work from home (or barn, actually) which saves on time and stress of a regular commute. She has taken on a volunteer position for the local Girl Scout unit as their treasurer, and this summer she made rockets for the camp with the help of Emily. Gardening is another pastime, taking care of her roses, and harvesting bucket after bucket of tomatoes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcDWu9JI08HDgOObVBj4ahnys5jmnA8GuWIAhJrLS7ltdHmB2o9kbAuw6iswwXl5hTUp2ak-1dWqfRGUHymWcfZXXbPYJppcobzPKi9MChEj_l39JhDYyENuHu_RdqhwGQ1sL2gZAmVhF/s1600/64401800_10219803631469214_4223899773528178688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcDWu9JI08HDgOObVBj4ahnys5jmnA8GuWIAhJrLS7ltdHmB2o9kbAuw6iswwXl5hTUp2ak-1dWqfRGUHymWcfZXXbPYJppcobzPKi9MChEj_l39JhDYyENuHu_RdqhwGQ1sL2gZAmVhF/s400/64401800_10219803631469214_4223899773528178688_n.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Heather Cook, Rita, and Emily at the Girl Scout Camp with the rocket launcher.</span></td></tr>
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Chris has managed to accomplish a few things this past year despite some health issues. Starting on Father's Day weekend some pains started up, After multitudinous tests at Kaiser they deemed him in "perfect health." Pains have subsided for now at least. He has got some O scale modeling in between house projects, as well as volunteering to fund-raise for the local railroad preservation group. A high point was a fundraising trip aboard Roger and Gloria's private railcar the "Two Rivers" from Woodland to West Sacramento in November.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiQN0Mlue3p1_IQ1cYHqzMm9l_FgGNImy3n6Es0bsbmvBcIcHg0YXjqLnoLkJY2tN8tyDiF5UawDFL7XQSroOIJ6YrgbBizmcUJAuhel4KetKxWOuLI7UMcB3slUhU7PlvdpkCqA_Tvqz/s1600/75627348_148985896481538_7675141544755593216_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="862" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiQN0Mlue3p1_IQ1cYHqzMm9l_FgGNImy3n6Es0bsbmvBcIcHg0YXjqLnoLkJY2tN8tyDiF5UawDFL7XQSroOIJ6YrgbBizmcUJAuhel4KetKxWOuLI7UMcB3slUhU7PlvdpkCqA_Tvqz/s400/75627348_148985896481538_7675141544755593216_o.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rita prepares the snacks and visits with our wonderful neighbor Patria aboard the Two Rivers.</span></td></tr>
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No update would be complete without letting you know how our Akita, Kona is getting along. She is still taking care of us, and keeping the squirrels in the trees. Treats are the highlight of her day, unless of course she is lucky enough to get a ride in the truck, and maybe even a walk through Lowes in Martell, where she gets a lot of attention.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kona enjoying the snow.</td></tr>
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Anne was promoted to Production Coordinator at her employer, Cartoon Network. We are very proud of what she has accomplished in a short period of time. Her short commute from Sunland/Tujunga to Burbank is also a bonus. She has been able to take on some extra work as a colorist and continues working on commissions from time to time. Her significant other, Jack is her anchor, and has been able to find work at Alamo Brewhouse Theater in downtown LA. They were both able to travel to Ohio to visit Jack's family earlier this year, which was a nice break for them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and Anne at the Cartoon Network Halloween party.</td></tr>
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Emily is finishing up school this semester at Fullerton State. She will get her degree and decide what is next for her. We are proud of her as well for getting herself through school while holding down her job at Disneyland. She has been there three years now, and has been promoted to lead. Emily has also been taking voice acting lessons to add to her already busy schedule.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFtvGriAnl750s-Keer8sU1n2UJHhDG4iJiM4HKvHPDT4hgKUvVjXBiX62xyeZjG4hUQUJ8Vtdt8r9FEWPspjQmSHaP3ju0DuzOuNDL1PmFWDYM-i7dtVa6kZ7DTZca8oWuGRZmG1NVUQ/s1600/78613947_10215695610318791_7198819243448598528_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFtvGriAnl750s-Keer8sU1n2UJHhDG4iJiM4HKvHPDT4hgKUvVjXBiX62xyeZjG4hUQUJ8Vtdt8r9FEWPspjQmSHaP3ju0DuzOuNDL1PmFWDYM-i7dtVa6kZ7DTZca8oWuGRZmG1NVUQ/s400/78613947_10215695610318791_7198819243448598528_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beefsgiving Dinner at Harris Ranch with Rita, Heather (Emily's friend and roommate) Emily, Anne and Jack.</td></tr>
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While we don't see each other as much as we would like, we do get together when we can. Our Thanksgiving this year was a week early, due to the girl's work schedule. We met in the middle of the state at Harris Ranch. We had a delicious dinner at the steakhouse, which we deemed our "Beefsgiving." The next morning we retreated to our respective ends of California.<br />
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Those were our highlights for this past year. It is our hope, as always, that all of you have a great holiday season, and a safe, happy and productive 2020. We hope to see you all soon, either in person or online. Until then, please stay in touch!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Allan Family</span></b></div>
Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-61334465900555867142018-12-30T16:48:00.001-08:002018-12-30T16:52:31.913-08:00Allan Family Year-End Update 2018<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ell, another year is in the books, and what a year 2018
turned out to be. We accomplished quite a bit here in Pine Grove on the house
project, and the girls accomplished a good deal in their lives back in the Southland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The seemingly unending process to get the house permits
approved finally ran its course by the beginning of the spring. At that point
Rita started with the digging of footings for the house slab, and three
concrete pours later, we were ready for the house kit to be shipped. The panel
kit was shipped from Indiana in late June. Arriving three days earlier than we
planned, we had to scramble to bring in forklifts and hire the local tow
company to bring in the panels as there is no way of getting a big rig onto our
property. Dealing with logistics that day and the overly grumpy truck driver
made for a long process. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless,
day by day, with the help of family and friends, including Mike and Patria
Rhodes, our next-door neighbors, and Chris’ friends Roger S., Roger C3, and Paul, the Tyvek-wrapped
shell of our house stands as a testament to our perseverance. At the time of
this writing windows are being installed, with hopes of getting some siding in
place before the end of the year. Chris hopes to move in sometime before he and
Rita turn sixty, four years hence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rita continues working out of the barn in the meantime. She
has taken a volunteer position with the local Girl Scout Service Unit as a
treasurer. Between that, house building, and the regular prowling around at
estate sales in the county she is keeping busy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Much the same for Chris. Lots of house building, not much
time for model railroading, etc. He has been helping out from time to time
volunteering to raise some funding for the Amador Central Railroad group. They
have a 10-mile shortline railroad here in the county that volunteers are
working to preserve.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anne and her boyfriend Jack have moved into a snazzy
apartment in the greater Sunland/Tujunga area of Los Angeles in October. This enabled
Anne to move out of our friends Billy and Marie’s house in Norwalk, saving her a
great deal of stress in her commute to Burbank, where she works as a Production
Assistant at Cartoon Network. Mom and Dad got to drive down to help them move
in and get situated, the first time they have been back to LA in 2 ½ years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Emily continues her studies at Fullerton State. She is
taking a heavy class load so as to finish up her degree next year. In her spare
time, she works evenings and weekends at Disneyland, in and around the Fantasyland
section of the park. She also coaches track and field at her old high school in
Cerritos as well. Emily had a bit of an auto accident this past year, but she
took it in stride and learned a bit about the ins and outs of auto ownership in
the process. Luckily she was not injured.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kona, our Akita dog, still seems to like us, and looks
forward to her “talks” with the neighbor dogs through the fence, and getting
treats several times a day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All the best to everyone, happy
holidays, and remember to keep <o:p></o:p>in touch- and stop in when you are in the neighborhood!</div>
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Love from,<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Allan Family<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-87921917573845271422017-12-02T18:39:00.000-08:002017-12-05T08:54:48.078-08:00Allan Family Year-End Update 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>e have survived our first full year here in Amador County,
and for the most part we have few regrets about leaving the urban sprawl. The
routine is mostly broken up with projects aimed at getting our house built, so
we can move out of our “modest’ accommodations. In the past year we have had the pad for the
house graded, and just recently received the plan package (all 10 pounds of
it!) to submit to the County for a building permit. Once the concrete pad and
block walls are done, they will ship us the house, in panel format, out from
Indiana. Once the kit is here it will be up to us to nail it together. Suffice
to say, it will be a couple of years before we move in. For the time being, we
are comfortable and look forward to getting more accomplished.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rita continues to telecommute from our barn/living room. She
is quite busy writing classes for Caltrans and in general keeping things going around
here. Keeping the girls’ education on track, with loans, grants, etc. is another
pastime. Her new hobby is drainage, and keeping the rain from washing our
property down into Ridge Road. When it’s drippy outside she can be found in her
rain gear trenching away, trying to convince nature which way the runoff should
go. Rita dug out the paved section of the driveway this year and got some sealer
down. This took a couple of tries, suffice to say the second time she did it
cones and tape were put up so the mail delivery didn’t drive in and mess it up!
She is also getting quite adept with a chainsaw, something of a necessity when
you live up here. Rita also became proficient in AutoCAD during the design of
the house, which Chris appreciated! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Chris looks forward to the day when the house is done, and
Rita’s barn office can be turned into his hobby room. Until then there is
plenty to do getting the Tiki bar decorated, cooking a few meals, and myriad
other chores that must be performed to keep the wolves at bay. He has been
practicing his cocktail making skills, much to the delight of Rita and the
neighbors. No one has complained so far, but practice makes perfect. Volunteer
work has taken a back seat for now to getting the work done on the property,
but Chris hopes to get back to that again one day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anne continues her college life at San Jose State. She has a
boyfriend, Jack, who lives in Ohio, so that makes things rather complicated for
her. Jack visited over the Thanksgiving weekend, and was a welcome addition to
our family. She teaches elementary age kids art as a side job, which pays for plane
fare, and goes home to Pine Grove every couple of weeks to see the folks and do
laundry (sometimes not in that order). She is applying for internships for the
summer and next school year. With any luck she will fall into something she
really enjoys doing while showing off her artistic talents.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDloIDVYXLBDK0tM8CGRgOsf0L_uBlB2SG4tfgI2Ds2mpApTBJEyIqbWZ_ToadUUcLZTXo62o4_9B9Badfk8-icDM-uCji83EDP0tqzlMG-TyzUIeYgy3wuBk5XlMUI2wVHYy-aMi6XXa/s1600/23845713_10211069742874996_3780371723971536528_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDloIDVYXLBDK0tM8CGRgOsf0L_uBlB2SG4tfgI2Ds2mpApTBJEyIqbWZ_ToadUUcLZTXo62o4_9B9Badfk8-icDM-uCji83EDP0tqzlMG-TyzUIeYgy3wuBk5XlMUI2wVHYy-aMi6XXa/s400/23845713_10211069742874996_3780371723971536528_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Emily is in her second year at Fullerton, continuing in the Drama
program with her sights on perhaps one-day teaching. Most nights she can be
found working at her job at Disneyland, where drama abounds. She enjoys
mingling with the guests, as well as the extra cash. She made it up to Pine
Grove a few times this year, even driving herself up once, which qualifies as
her very first road trip. She is quite
possibly going to spend a semester in Wales next year, which should give her a
more “rounded” view of the world around us. Her parents are looking forward to possibly
visiting if she goes over.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s about it for this year. Thanks to all our friends that
managed to come up and visit or at least keep in touch. Our dog Kona loves
visitors! With any luck, next year we will have pictures to share of a house
framework. Fingers Crossed!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjKqgtJXCKcRZNF3S7U1-eV7gFQWwYofrUgygVLRZrGZbZ6IHi1L7EIorqwT0eKaKUamKx1gMPk9843Or2cAC-n8UVbSyhSKs6IIh5NLPF_hxrOiKr9n1kTR4buGkFSKhdNHDBQbH-rA4/s1600/23213487_10214333436110852_7884761136054518436_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjKqgtJXCKcRZNF3S7U1-eV7gFQWwYofrUgygVLRZrGZbZ6IHi1L7EIorqwT0eKaKUamKx1gMPk9843Or2cAC-n8UVbSyhSKs6IIh5NLPF_hxrOiKr9n1kTR4buGkFSKhdNHDBQbH-rA4/s400/23213487_10214333436110852_7884761136054518436_o.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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Love from,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris Rita Anne Emily & Kona<o:p></o:p></div>
Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-22272744917601020242016-12-26T13:43:00.000-08:002016-12-26T13:46:31.504-08:00Allan Family Year-End Update 2016<br />
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Greetings!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once again we hope this is finding everyone in good spirits
and ready to tackle 2017. The past year
has been one of change for all four of us. Change is normally good, taken in
small doses but 2016’s events have not qualified as a “small” change for the
Allan’s. 2016 presented us with some big challenges, tiring moments, and a few
moments of satisfaction, and the pace does not let up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most notably, the biggest change for us was a change of venue.
Immediately after Emily’s graduation from High School we packed up the Lakewood
house and moved into our property in Pine Grove, located in Amador County in
Northern California. We settled Emily into a cozy apartment in Anaheim and set
off in our U-Haul over the Grapevine for the last time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Utilizing a bit of persistence and Rita’s boundless energy
we are settled into our buildings here in the Sierra foothills, and look
forward to beginning the main house build in the spring. Still plenty to do
with trees falling over and trying to stay warm!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rita is now many hours closer to her Caltrans headquarters
in Sacramento, but still continues to telecommute from Pine Grove. Designing
training courses for the construction division take up her work hours. The property is her main focus during her
free time. For Christmas she received a gas-powered chipper/shredder which she
has made good use of. A friend gave her a “brand new” never used 20-year-old
chainsaw which came in handy Christmas Eve when a 36-inch oak tipped over into
our neighbor’s fence. Needless to say
someone isn’t going to run out of firewood for a while.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMCNntYKeZE18psXWWeDeRd6xTBLiAONunG0rNHHK8blhdQbBpk4pUjSM-ipHkXlaKI12t40PZ06FaUW35cetQjeEWtwJrl4hvZivBOYYtRwoeaz7byGx2o_AUv560ctKQMsp06_hMd88/s1600/15589754_10208420541326613_3980920947434857562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMCNntYKeZE18psXWWeDeRd6xTBLiAONunG0rNHHK8blhdQbBpk4pUjSM-ipHkXlaKI12t40PZ06FaUW35cetQjeEWtwJrl4hvZivBOYYtRwoeaz7byGx2o_AUv560ctKQMsp06_hMd88/s640/15589754_10208420541326613_3980920947434857562_n.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rita brushes some preservative on a handrail at steps headed toward the barn.</td></tr>
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In the latter part of the year we adopted a 3-year old Akita
from a rescue in Walnut Creek. Chris
named her Kona due to her coffee colored coat. She was somewhat abused as a
puppy so it takes her a while to warm up to people, but she is enjoying having
over an acre to run around on. She also enjoys visiting the neighbor dogs and
running up and down the fence with them.
Kona is a welcome addition to our family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anne is now in her third year of the Animation program at
San Jose State. She works incredibly hard and is turning out some really
awesome designs and artwork. She left the dorms this year and moved into an
apartment with three roommates within walking distance of the campus. Anne is earning a little extra cash teaching
art to elementary grade children in her free time, which she really likes.
Online gaming takes precedence over sleep occasionally but she is making lots
of new friends. Her parents do get to
see her every couple of weeks when she drives to Pine Grove for laundry
privileges. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Emily has begun her meteoric rise to stardom by starting her
college studies at the drama department at Cal State Fullerton. Her independent lifestyle in sunny Southern
California seems to agree with her and she loves her classes and the people she
is getting to know. This past year she graduated with honors from Whitney High
in Cerritos, along with starring in the lead role in the yearly school drama production.
Emily still keeps close tabs on her old Whitney High School “family” and helps
out with drama and her other passion, cross country running.Emily also earned here Girl Scout <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwTRAyE6Q3k" target="_blank">"Gold Award" </a>this year and got to take part in the big presentation gala in Pasadena this summer. Leaving her
part-time job at Katella Deli proved to be a good move as she was able to land
a job at Disneyland, as a hostess on the Storyland Canal Boats. This work helps her to hone her drama skills
and is a good foothold into the entertainment world. Her parents don’t get to
see her much but they are looking forward to Emily spending a week in Pine
Grove during winter break. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-odtWmeOHvFOXNQPMAVpiM4viUBogrnM38j1ukareYJ_u1HKhABhMf_hNbp61miHChZc1XGyI_X9lZu_Lhgqq5sPGhhNPGO8oJD0Aykjqcbj1g4BOXI859V0JizDrJ-1XKmVtyg19_nVu/s1600/P1190272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-odtWmeOHvFOXNQPMAVpiM4viUBogrnM38j1ukareYJ_u1HKhABhMf_hNbp61miHChZc1XGyI_X9lZu_Lhgqq5sPGhhNPGO8oJD0Aykjqcbj1g4BOXI859V0JizDrJ-1XKmVtyg19_nVu/s400/P1190272.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls hang out with Kona during our tiki-themed Christmas party.</td></tr>
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Chris has been working to keep up with Rita which is all but
impossible, but he is trying. One project after another is the order of the
day, including getting the A/C & heat pump installed in the barn, putting
up a new pole and pulling in a new 200 amp service, getting the tiki bar
useable as our temporary kitchen, and working on the CAD designs for the new
house, to name a few. On Wednesdays he helps out in Jackson with the Amador
Sawmill group, restoring machines for the high school shop program and other
restorations. Occasionally he also helps out with the steam sawmill at the
county fairgrounds in Plymouth. A main focus once the house is built will be to
install his O-scale model railroad, which he is making parts and pieces for now.
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcccwe_vSQp9AQWvcM6woTSmEsmztgpmw7iKB1B_3bAaRt7asd7jTrRXgcWSjEkMs-dL71vGdMmxTUW4fWapFhdZxlwkWSK80Jduj6tqcdCfhLeH8EzTNAeUowosVmcsnRM0FJVV2f27yE/s1600/15723490_10211389055023165_9171697789109462857_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcccwe_vSQp9AQWvcM6woTSmEsmztgpmw7iKB1B_3bAaRt7asd7jTrRXgcWSjEkMs-dL71vGdMmxTUW4fWapFhdZxlwkWSK80Jduj6tqcdCfhLeH8EzTNAeUowosVmcsnRM0FJVV2f27yE/s400/15723490_10211389055023165_9171697789109462857_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooray! Another challenge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Adjustment to a new situation is neither easy nor painless,
but we are lucky to have new neighbors and friends that are helping us along,
giving us advice on who to use for certain things, or even how to survive the
frigid winter. This place will be good for us once we are truly settled, until
then we will not be bored!<o:p></o:p></div>
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All the best to all of our friends and family, it is our
wish that you have a happy, prosperous and safe 2017!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris Rita Anne Emily (and now) Kona the dog<o:p></o:p></div>
Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-13739634399358760562016-02-19T08:51:00.001-08:002016-02-19T08:51:25.286-08:00Paradise Under the Power Lines.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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My earliest memory as a child growing up in Covina was when
Dad and I picked up Mom and my brother Scott at the hospital after his birth.
We were in the good old ’61 Chevy Impala, no seat belts back then. I probably remember
this trip because we had to stop at a grade crossing somewhere to let a train
pass.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have spent all but thirteen of my years here in Southern
California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My desire to move out is not
due to any one thing, just a conglomeration of lots of little things. I suppose
my childhood was idyllic, by most standards at least. With three brothers and
my oldest sister Patty (my younger sister Mary was born in the Bay Area) packed
into a 900 square foot house in the San Gabriel Valley, I still managed to find
plenty of time to myself, riding my bike across the street, hoping for the
Pacific Electric San Bernardino Local to come ambling by, wishing the “Wig-Wag”
signal at Vincent Avenue would activate (that crossing is now a Metrolink line,
with trains whisking by at 79MPH) That was the high point of my day. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Things quieted down at night when I would sit out on the
front lawn and wait for the Helms Bakery truck to come by with fresh goodies,
and maybe a birthday cake my Mom ordered the week before. Other times I would
sit and watch the glow of the wildfires high in the San Gabriel mountain range.
Funny thing; the smog was so bad in those days, even though we practically
lived at the foot of the mountains, I didn’t know they were there until I was
10 years old. In fact, some days were so bad you couldn’t see the traffic light
a block from our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least the air
pollution has gotten better, the noise pollution, not so much.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Dad moved us en masse north to the San Francisco Bay Area in
1976, to continue his career with Caltrans on the new Antioch Bridge project. I
spent 13 semi-blissful years going to high school, then college, eventually
moving myself up to Tuolumne County, where I met my wonderful wife Rita. We
were married in 1988 on Presidents Day weekend in bucolic Sonora, CA. Rita’s job
with the construction company then took us to Rhode Island, where she was an
engineer on the new Jamestown Bridge construction. I thought New England would
be akin to a Walt Whitman poem. Unfortunately, the state was pretty much paved
from one end to the other. I waited until May for spring to come, being used to
the trees getting their leaves by March. I pleaded with my Dad to get Rita a
job with Caltrans so I could come back to my beloved California. After twenty
minutes on the phone with Sacramento, she had that job, in charge of
construction on the east end of the new I-105 freeway in, you guessed it, Los
Angeles County!</div>
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<br /></div>
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By happenstance we settled in the far eastern reaches of the
County, in Lakewood, in a condo where you could literally walk out your front
door, take twenty steps, and be in Orange County. Rita’s office was in
Cerritos, a former dairy city that is in LA County but seems to acts like it is
in Orange County. Lakewood turned out to be a good choice in the beginning. By
1990 we had purchased one of the cookie-cutter houses using my overtime pay,
and moved in. Houses in this part of Lakewood are separated by a scant 15 feet.
Privacy is not part of the bargain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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In Rhode Island I couldn’t land any kind of a real job.
After we moved to LA, thanks to some good friends, I was employed in the
entertainment industry, where I stayed for the next 15 years. I was planning on
living in So Cal for 3-4 years, and, assuming Rita could get a promotion or a
transfer, move back up to around the Sacramento area. Fate intervened. Twenty-six
years later, here we are, still in Lakewood.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t get me wrong, Lakewood isn’t a bad place, it’s just
not where I would choose to live the rest of my life. Conveniences abound, but
as we know, conveniences come with a price. Living three minutes from an
In-N-Out Burger has certainly had consequences.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In our little house, nestled next to the San Gabriel River
(paved) under the buzzing high tension wires, things started out great. Our new
neighbors threw a pizza “block party” for us when we moved in, we all quickly
got to know each other, and everyone on the cul-de-sac had had started a young
family. When new people moved in they came over and introduced themselves. The
city hosted Rita’s Girl Scout troop for a decade, and there was a real sense of
community here. Now most of the kids have grown up and moved out. There are
neighbors that have lived in close proximity to us for upwards of ten years
that I have never spoken a word to. New neighbors tend to be inconsiderate; they
have loud parties well into the wee hours. New people don’t seem to have a
sense of place or a sense of community, but they sure have a sense of
entitlement. This place is for the young, and we aren’t that any more.</div>
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<br /></div>
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With two precious, precocious and driven daughters to raise,
the best course was to stay put until they were both out of high school. Why
move when your kids can attend the best public high school in the state? This
required us to endure the changes our formerly quiet little community has gone
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Used to be you could just hear taps
at sunset, on the bugle, soft and mournful when the flag was being lowered down
the street at the Long Beach Naval Hospital. That property is now a shopping
mega-center, with a 26 theater multi-plex and thousands of cars going in and
out daily. Sheriff helicopters are constantly circling the freeway across from
us in Hawaiian Gardens, and every other car turning the corner next to our
house is blasting its stereo at or near the pain threshold all hours’ day or
night. Unsavory looking persons in dark hooded sweatshirts can be seen
meandering up and down the cul-de-sac like the boogie man from stories. The
freeway roars 24 hours a day. The 605 (yes I will always say “THE” before
freeway numbers) used to get quiet at night, now it isn’t even quiet on
Christmas morning. Sirens blare at regular intervals like we live in Midtown Manhattan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this came to be too much for me, and I told Rita I wanted
to move back to the Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and she graciously
went along with it. Lucky for me. Granted, the grass is always greener on the
other side, and every place has its problems, but hope springs eternal that the
life we make for ourselves in Amador County will be somehow simpler, and a tad
quieter. It damn sure will after I install the double-pane windows in the new
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So long Lakewood, and thanks, you
were good to us. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For the most part I am looking forward to closing the Big
Iron Gate at our driveway and retiring. The world going by outside can just get
on with it, without any interference from me. Thanks to Rita I now have my very
own Pacific Electric Wig-Wag signal I can activate whenever I want. Now if I
could just get time-traveling Helms Bakery trucks to stop out front every
Thursday evening at dusk. - <i>Chris</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP-V2z6QniU3H4GGIp-qR-ShDLe0lOKFtI465KAWRVKUDjDT_hQwaM4q-SLgWPtdLdLx0AaUoLxxOBNyPsnyxD67EWmYfyO95Lp83a6mkImBE-npxIEyNAbzFnxSvqzpSTUsi0cwi7k94/s1600/86689284_b8b3f54372_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP-V2z6QniU3H4GGIp-qR-ShDLe0lOKFtI465KAWRVKUDjDT_hQwaM4q-SLgWPtdLdLx0AaUoLxxOBNyPsnyxD67EWmYfyO95Lp83a6mkImBE-npxIEyNAbzFnxSvqzpSTUsi0cwi7k94/s400/86689284_b8b3f54372_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnetic Flagman Co. Wig Wag signal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-82468575031738758372015-12-22T18:15:00.004-08:002015-12-22T18:18:15.647-08:00Allan Family Year-End Update 2015<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As 2015 comes to
close, Seasonal Greetings, Merry Christmas, etc. to one and all! We hope this
finds everyone happy and prosperous. Another busy, busy year has come and gone
for the Allan family here in Lakewood. Highlights follow…</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The general scheme of
things for Chris and Rita is to move to Northern California next year, to our
property in Pine Grove, located in Amador County. To date the barn is now
finished; our tiny cabin is almost finished out on the inside, and the shed
which will, in the short term, serve as our kitchen is up and ready for build
outs. A great deal needs to happen before we can occupy the land, including
running permitted underground electrical and water, and get our current house
ready for the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Target date for
the move remains June 30<sup>th</sup> of next year.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rita continues to
telecommute upstairs for Caltrans. She technically works out of Sacramento so
she will be that much closer after the move. Her Girl Scout troop will disband
next year, now that Anne and Emily and many other girls in the troop have
earned their Gold Awards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new skill
was learned this year, laying out and mortaring cinder block retaining walls
around the upslope sides of the barn. Her projects abound, and she is seldom
bored. If she ever is, there is always her trusty Kindle Reader. The next big
item for her will be to take the house plans for Pine Grove and redesign the
layout to suit her taste.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The life of Chris
involves a lot of going back and forth; to drop off Emily at school, to the
garage to work on O scale railroad models, and shopping for new and exciting
food items that meet the criteria of the new diet Rita and he are on. So far
weight has been lost, but not enough as yet. Chris is anxious to get up north
and leave Los Angeles County behind. He will work as the advance party to get
things ready so that when Rita finally shows up she can get right back to work.
The O Scale model railroad is already designed. He will start building upstairs
in the barn as soon as they move into the new house. Until then there are no
shortage of tasks for Chris.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anne is working
through her sophomore year at San Jose State in the animation program. Her
portfolio was reviewed and accepted so she is good to go for another year! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not much time for her to do much but go to
class, do homework, and if she’s lucky, sleep. She is happy when it’s time to
come home for a break. Her artwork has come along nicely, and Chris and Rita
are wondering where she got that talent from? The summer job was as a counselor
at the Long Beach Girl Scout camp. She enjoyed it, most of the time. Anne also
got to go to see her favorite people again at an internet convention in Austin,
Texas at the end of the summer. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Emily is finally in
her senior year at Whitney High in Cerritos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As predicted, she is practically running the place. As president of the
Drama Club, Team Captain, and a few others, as well as being on the
Cross-county and Track & Field teams, she spends most all of the daylight
hours at school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sang and danced in
the schools delightful production of “Mary Poppins” just prior to Thanksgiving,
and will be in two additional shows before she graduates. Over the summer she
earned her Gold Award by building an 8 foot by 16 foot storage shed on school
grounds, to be used for prop and costume storage. Mom and Dad, as well as the
rest of the drama kids helped a little. Emily is not quite sure which college
she will be attending next year, but Fullerton State in Orange County is a front-runner.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sadly we lost our
beloved dog Missy this year. She was a loyal member of our family and she will
always be remembered. After a suitable period of time we will get another dog,
but likely not until we are settled up north.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s about it for
us, again we hope your year was a good one, and if it wasn’t, well, at least
it’s almost over now- so hang in there! (FYI- We will send out our new address
after we get a PO Box next year.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All
the best,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chris
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Rita<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Anne <span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Emily </span><br />
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Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-36033742634984436062014-12-09T13:18:00.001-08:002014-12-09T13:18:32.858-08:00Allan Family Update 2014<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Greetings once again to all of our family and friends! We
sincerely hope this finds you healthy, happy and prosperous, or at least on the
road to a better place.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another hectic year has come and gone. Time passed in a
flurry, and it does not look like things for the Allan’s will slow down any
time soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Activities and projects
continue to keep us busy, which helps to promote “togetherness” as a family!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anne is now a freshman studying Animation and Illustration
at San Jose State University up north. She has her own dorm room and is making
new friends; thriving in the creative atmosphere. She is enjoying college and
taking to life away from home quite well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After graduating from Whitney High School this past Spring, she and her
sister took a trip to an animation convention in Austin, Texas. This counted as
her graduation present. Now that Anne has received her Gold Award from the Girl
Scouts, she is a lifetime adult member, and is, at least for now, out of the
cookie sales business.</div>
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Emily began her Junior year at Whitney this year. She is the
president of the Drama Club, and has dazzled us in their first play, “The
Curious Savage”, in which she played the lead. She is currently working toward
her GS Gold Award to be completed in time to hopefully march as a banner holder
in the 2016 Rose Parade. She had a great time in Austin with her sister, just
the two of them unsupervised in the Lonestar State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emily is enjoying having her own room, and
when she has free time, plays Nancy Drew mystery games on the laptop. She is
also starting to think about colleges and the possibilities that await her.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Rita is getting the household ready for the big move to Pine
Grove in 2016. Twenty-five years of accumulated stuff will have to be dealt
with. The barn built at the property up north is slowly filling up, but Rita
made great strides flooring the upstairs mezzanine, one square at a time, all
576 square feet this past November! Some furniture can now make its way up
there, which will be challenging given the lack of stairs to the upper level.
Girl Scouts is still a major focus in Rita’s life, with Emily working toward
her final goal, and helping out with a younger troop whose leader is Rita’s
cousin. The Caltrans work continues from the upstairs room over the garage
thanks to telecommuting, which will also be the case after the move north. Some
health issues did crop up for her this year, but she came through with flying
colors, and doing much better now.</div>
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Chris started the year on a low note after suffering a minor
stroke in March. A bit scary to say the least, but he takes it as a wakeup
call. Diet and exercise are given more attention, and Chris is much more
cognizant of how lucky he is to have a great family and a happy life. The
restoration of the steam locomotive in Portola is going into its ninth year,
and will hopefully progress a great deal soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chris’ main focus is getting out of LA in a year and a half and finally
making the move to Pine Grove. The barn structure he and his friends put up is
all but complete. The latest addition is a deck in front at the level of the
second floor, built to resemble a railroad trestle. Work will continue on the
property in the spring of next year. Building O scale railroad models is also
one of his new interests, something he hopes to continue after the move.</div>
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Missy continues to slow down, but still enjoys her daily
walks with Rita, and lying in her spot in the backyard waiting for gophers to
pop up.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Allan’s wish each of you a happy and prosperous 2015!
Please stay in touch if you can, we love to hear from all of you. We look
forward to our last full year here in Lakewood, which should fly by in no time!</div>
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<br /></div>
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All the best,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Chris Rita Anne Emily and Missy the Dog</div>
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Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-85307052721195931252013-12-11T14:25:00.001-08:002013-12-15T10:03:54.672-08:00Allan Family Christmas Update 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Greetings to all of our family and friends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again another year has passed us by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day to day pace makes time pass quickly to
be sure. </div>
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Chris and Rita continue to prepare for the eventual move to
Pine Grove, in the foothills east of Sacramento. The barn, which was delivered
as a “kit” was finished up and signed off by Amador County in May. Immediately
the overflow from Lakewood started filling it up. A good deal of renovation
also was done to the tiny cabin we refer to as the “Boat House” due to its
diminutive size. With the help of our friend Paul we were able to re-sheet the
interior paneling upstairs and down, as well as new flooring in the restroom,
shower area and “living room”. Future plans call for an outdoor/indoor kitchen and Tiki Lounge themed using the items generously bestowed upon us by our friends Ed and Diana Mackinson. The move is still scheduled for summer of 2016, after
Emily graduates from Whitney High School.</div>
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Rita continues to focus on Girl Scout projects. Her girls
have started their Gold Award projects, and in some cases, as in Anne’s, they
are all but complete. Emily has selected her project and should have it
finished in a year or so. At that point the troop will disband. Rita continues
to spend her days upstairs developing construction training courses for
Caltrans. She has built a foam box for recording voice-overs to be used in her
online courses. Emily does a lot of the voice acting which is good practice for
a possible future career. Rita also spends most weekends working at a small
scrapbooking store in Bellflower, which gives her some hobby income and affords
her time to visit with her group of friends.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEKCWcu07_QlmxSjleBMAGGtSe5uz7QIaN-9HH0BRIInkDrJQd6HTjJdqSDhNzmNAhWUfbwdikPua2Vak7ZnPMQpF-0RererGH00hyNGqbtTpHsHwYmBA1ovJ42U18QIfAkEFtQQTqiJn/s1600/P1130711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEKCWcu07_QlmxSjleBMAGGtSe5uz7QIaN-9HH0BRIInkDrJQd6HTjJdqSDhNzmNAhWUfbwdikPua2Vak7ZnPMQpF-0RererGH00hyNGqbtTpHsHwYmBA1ovJ42U18QIfAkEFtQQTqiJn/s400/P1130711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Chris has more projects under way than he would like to
admit. Work sporadically gets done on projects in Pine Grove, the steam
locomotive restoration in Portola, the last of the 15” gauge railway equipment,
and building components for a future model railway in “O” Scale. He doesn’t
have much down time. Add to that taxiing the kids around, cooking meals, food
shopping, etc. he is kept quite busy, and time flies by at a frightening pace
for him. He and Rita also managed to paint the exterior of the house as well as
scrape the last bit of that gaud awful popcorn texture off the ceiling of the
living room in Lakewood. A new concrete driveway, poured by a contractor, as
well as new plantings by Rita really helped restore some “curb appeal “ to the
place, which will hopefully translate into a better price when it comes time to
go on the market in a couple of years.</div>
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This year Chris and Rita celebrated their 25<sup>th</sup>
wedding anniversary, a real milestone! To celebrate, they dined at Lawry’s
Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. This restaurant was on Chris’ “LA Bucket List” of
things to do before he leaves, so it was a natural choice. The fare was, as you
might imagine, quite excellent.</div>
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<br />
Anne, now a senior in high school, got to sample college
life when she attended the California State Summer School for the Arts, at the
Cal Arts campus in Santa Clarita. She spent an entire month sleeping in the
dorms, and took art classes 6 days a week for a month. The program is quite
prestigious, and we are very proud she made it in. All she needs to do is hang
in there for another six months and it is off to college, wherever that may be.
There are still several options open to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anne’s driving skills are improving, including learning to drive Rita’s
Escape with the stick shift. She hope to finally get her license on her 18<sup>th</sup>
birthday next February.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNVf7qXlFeGUntG5BAbbaTE6YZoGbuUVSoz08U8IeAEDMM1lZzxpJdMeD8M7jXVjv4ZMy5nmrin6QP7Ym95ISzbKx6cBFlsEDkIg_Gaa-rbqYinKqp3vijW30PGPcHjXdkvsB68LAAjEI/s1600/P1130709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNVf7qXlFeGUntG5BAbbaTE6YZoGbuUVSoz08U8IeAEDMM1lZzxpJdMeD8M7jXVjv4ZMy5nmrin6QP7Ym95ISzbKx6cBFlsEDkIg_Gaa-rbqYinKqp3vijW30PGPcHjXdkvsB68LAAjEI/s400/P1130709.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Emily is in her sophomore year at Whitney, and has a full
docket of activities as well. She took part in the school’s Fall stage play of
Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”. Given a meaty role, with many lines to memorize,
she did amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She worked a lot of
late night rehearsals and gave it her all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>School keeps her busy with many class projects and clubs. Emily has an
active social life as well, she always has friends close by which is a
blessing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Missy our Akita dog is slowing down, but still makes it to
the dinner table every night. She still has a good deal of energy and enjoys
being around the family and getting her hair everywhere she can!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will continue moving forward, it is our hope that all
of you can do the same. As always we wish for you a happy holiday season, and a
happy and prosperous 2014. Keep in touch if you can, we always enjoy getting
updates from you all!</div>
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<br /></div>
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All the best,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris Rita Anne Emily Missy</div>
Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-32164433650174212452012-12-16T13:35:00.001-08:002012-12-17T12:32:33.872-08:00Allan Family Christmas Letter for 2012<text><span style="font-size: large;">A</span>nother year has scurried by quickly and just like that, the Holidays are upon us. 2012 brought new experiences for some, progress on our projects, and some happy memories. This year, in an effort to promote the “green” agenda, our Christmas greeting will be electronic, by way of this posting. The truth is sending out cards this year is proving to be difficult given our accelerated lifestyles. Please don’t feel slighted, we love you all just the same! </text><br />
<br />
<text>Where to begin? Anne and Emily are continuing their school days at Whitney High in Cerritos. Anne is a junior, and Emily started as a freshman. They are both doing well, and more often than not work well into the night on homework to keep up their grades. Rita and the girls continue their Girl Scout careers. A highlight this year was the Girl Scout’s 100th Birthday Celebration at Disneyland, which included a walk down the castle drawbridge with the other girls from their troop. The troop also traveled en masse to Seattle for a week, taking in the sights and displaying their 1960’s era authentic vintage uniforms, which were purchased from various sources, including Ebay and thrift shops.</text><br />
<br />
<text><text>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598780_4638822169635_106369001_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598780_4638822169635_106369001_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girl's troop at the Disneyland Girl Scout Birthday Celebration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<text>Anne received her learner’s permit to drive, and did some behind-the-wheel time with Dad. She did really well, and when her parents can afford the insurance she will make a fine full time driver. She has also made new friends in conjunction with following a band out of San Diego, <a href="http://steampoweredgiraffe.com/" target="_blank">Steam Powered Giraffe</a>. These guys are a Steampunk Victorian family-oriented group that plays at the San Diego Zoo, among other venues. Anne is also active in several school clubs, and is continuing art training in her spare time. </text></text></text><br />
<br />
<text><text><text>Emily is enjoying school and all her friends; she has an active social life. This year she earned a Presidential Award for Educational Excellence, and we are very proud of her. Her class also went on their east coast field trip over Spring Break, and she got to experience a great deal of history, as well as take in a Broadway show. Her mermaid themed birthday party was a big hit. Luckily it was a pool party, otherwise it would not have made much sense.</text></text></text><br />
<br />
<text><text><text>Rita continues to tele-commute to Sacramento from the upstairs office. She is designing training courses for Caltrans, her employer, and still enjoys working from home. The Girl Scout troop takes up a good deal of her time, as well as keeping the girls active in their various activities. Rita began painting the house here in Lakewood in preparation for the move north in a few years; hopefully that project will be completed sometime in the spring, Chris plans on helping. A current obsession of her and the girls is visiting thrift shops wherever they travel, and bringing home treasures like vintage clothing, etc. This certainly saves vast sums of money compared to shopping at the mall. Rita spent her 50th birthday at Laguna Beach with the family, including the yearly dose of “culture” at the <a href="http://www.foapom.com/pageant-of-the-masters/" target="_blank">Pageant of the Masters</a>. Rita is also continuing with her scrapbooking hobby, and enjoys some time away from home with friends who have the same interest.</text></text></text><br />
<br />
<text><text><text><text>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/299300_4638826369740_386439379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/299300_4638826369740_386439379_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to Seattle!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</text></text></text></text><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the queue for the Haunted Mansion for Dad's 50th.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<text>Chris of course has project ADHD, that is to say, too many irons in the fire. Work continues on the <a href="http://wprrsteam.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">locomotive restoration</a> at the museum in Portola, California, which will hopefully wrap up in the next couple years. His big “push” this year has been putting up a 24 square foot, two story barn at the property in Pine Grove. Although not technically done as of this writing, it is (hopefully!) watertight for the winter. He spent two weeks in November finishing up the exterior with help from his friend Paul, Roger, and our great new Pine Grove neighbor, Mike. More than a few cuts from the sheet metal were bandaged up, many hard lessons were learned, but in the end the result was quite nice. The family will travel back up in the spring to finish it up. </text><br />
<br />
<text>Chris spent his 50th birthday at Disneyland with Anne and Emily, and had a great time “pub-hopping” with his good friend Ken Eells at various places around the resort. It was a great way to start his second half-century! He has also been working on more parts for his 15” gauge railway parlor car, which will be finished up after the move north. Locomotive #18, a 15” gauge steamer built by Chris, took part in the 60th anniversary of the <a href="http://www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com/" target="_blank">Redwood Valley Railway</a> in Berkeley, California this past June. Participating was a real treat for Chris and his friends in attendance, to say the least. In his spare time Chris enjoys napping, and occasionally working on some O scale model railroad building. A lot of driving the girls around fills in the rest of his time.</text><br />
<br />
<text><text>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/380343_4249191383544_503113816_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/380343_4249191383544_503113816_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The barn at Pine Grove is almost done!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</text> </text><br />
<text>Missy the dog is still doing well, and although getting on in years, still has a good deal of energy, enjoys her walks, and being around us. She is still as happy as ever. </text><br />
<br />
<text>A truly busy 2012, and 2013 promises the same. We hope all of you are happy and healthy, if not prosperous. Please continue to try and keep in touch, and we will do the same. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy, safe 2013! </text><br />
<br />
<text>Yours in merriment, </text><br />
<br />
<text>Chris, Rita, Anne, and Emily Allan (Missy too.)
</text>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-72537016667113628722011-12-13T10:43:00.000-08:002011-12-13T10:45:16.527-08:00Allan Family Christmas Update 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtg1vOn4ZM0hJmF2DkKKZNgpvXeOo8zKYIeESkn07VJpfU93ieo3M39PXJWU2a3WOijFYXnuLA-Zp5uy1I3E4h_CvdEHqWz2V0MV68lrC_IIyINJe1RrQ84-h4fmCABad66sfTqwJF_Qf7/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtg1vOn4ZM0hJmF2DkKKZNgpvXeOo8zKYIeESkn07VJpfU93ieo3M39PXJWU2a3WOijFYXnuLA-Zp5uy1I3E4h_CvdEHqWz2V0MV68lrC_IIyINJe1RrQ84-h4fmCABad66sfTqwJF_Qf7/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685685848843361682" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> 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Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Greetings to all of our family and friends!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once again we turn around and another year has passed us by. Time flies when you never stop moving. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Allan Family of Lakewood: Chris, Rita, Anne and Emily continues with the day to day struggle to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak, and life is never boring. With numerous Girl Scout trips and events, long weekends fixing up our property in Pine Grove, and just the day to day, a dizzying vortex of activity is the dominant theme in our world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rita continues to have the shortest commute in LA County, from the bedroom to the upstairs office. Her work for Caltrans takes up her days, while Girl Scouts, scrapbooking and various crafts take up the rest of her time. She has been fixing up the 10 foot by 10 foot square “boat house” (so named because it is like staying in a tiny boat) in Pine Grove to make for comfortable accommodations while we work on the property. So far she (and Chris) have installed a wood stove, shower, water heater, kitchenette, indoor and outdoor sink, and have the paneling for the upstairs loft all stained and ready to nail up. She has even begun transplanting some greenery from Lakewood to up there, including a heirloom rhubarb plant. Sisters Mary, Patty, and cousins May, Lauren and Christopher came up at the end of the summer and hung out for a day with the family, it was fun having them there. The highlight for the kids was the Slip and Slide built by Rita, which worked great until the well ran out and only gave us pumpkin colored muck for a couple of hours. Rita also spent a harried month of October turning out costumes for the girls and their friends to wear to the Disneyland Halloween party. They were very detailed and everyone loved them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chris had quite a busy year, at one time making four separate round trips over the Grapevine to Northern California in one month. Work continues on the steam locomotive at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California. Much was accomplished this year, and there is a whole load of work yet to do. He also started a new project in Arnold, California; a logging locomotive restoration for the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum, which should last until 2014. Not much progress on any of the 15” gauge projects this year. He sold off his steam shovel build to help fund the remainder of the parlor car project, which was sad and a relief all at the same time. The highlight for Chris’ 2011 was a rail cruise up the scenic Feather River Canyon, from Oakland, California to Portola aboard Roger and Gloria Stabler’s private railcar, the “Two Rivers”. Five days and nights enjoying the Pullman accommodations with good friends, sumptuous meals and tasty cocktails made for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Various other activities fill in his “spare time” including trying new recipes to cook that the family will actually eat, and driving the girls back and forth to Disneyland on a regular basis. Chris is enamored of the new Tiki-themed bar at the Disneyland Hotel: Trader Sam’s. He wishes he could spend more time there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anne is <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a sophomore at Whitney High School in Cerritos. The course load is tough but she is doing well. Pre-calculus was especially difficult but she is gradually improving. Her artwork is also improving as she studies different styles and has joined the Lakewood Art Guild. Anne has become a Disney-o-phile, spending a lot of time at Disneyland with her “gang,” the Peter Pals. She hopes one day to get a job at Disney Imagineering. She was able this year to interview Imagineer Ray Spencer for a school report, which was a real highlight for her.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She is starting to work on her Girl Scout Gold Award, a project for the City of Lakewood Pan American Association, and has become a real fan of sleeping in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Emily is in 8<sup>th</sup> grade, also at Whitney. She has taken to drama, and was in a school play last spring, and most likely another one this coming spring. She is also studying hard and is making very good grades. Emily remains a Barbie enthusiast and everything pink. This year she adds Monster High to her list of favorite things. She completed her Girl Scout Silver Award, developed and ran a Harry Potter Girl Scout camp. She enjoys hanging out with her circle of friends. Emily is quite keen on Christmas coming, and has led the charge to get the decorations up, which is good, since her parents are getting more tired as the season wears on.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Missy is slowing down, she is we estimate around 9-10 years old now, but still excited to walk around the neighborhood, or ride in the truck. She is quite good at taking care of us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s our year in a nutshell. 2011 went quick, and there is no indication that we will slow down any time soon. 2012 promises to be a banner year, with a barn raising in the summer and only 4 years until the big move to Pine Grove. We hope all of you have a wonderful season and a happy, healthy New Year. Please keep in touch, and stop in if you get the chance, we might actually be at home!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">All the best,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chris Rita Anne Emily & Missy</p>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-59166525166750559302010-11-25T13:27:00.000-08:002010-11-25T13:30:31.114-08:00Allan Family Christmas Update 2010<a>Greetings to all of our family and friends! We will once again attempt to update you on our past year of activity, accomplishments, and other stuff.<br />As the girls get into their teenage years, life becomes increasingly hectic. Both Anne and Emily are now attending Whitney Academy in Cerritos. Their school is part of the local school district, and focuses on college prep. Another benefit for Chris and Rita is the school bus transport provided, so no more multiple daily driving trips across town.<br />Rita consented to move her Caltrans office into what was the master bedroom, and the bedroom is now on the ground floor. Chris suggested this arrangement because less noise from the street gets through to the back of the house. The move, which took place over the summer, involved a lot of painting, new carpets, windows, and other improvements that were put off for too long, like central heat downstairs. The new office also includes homework areas for both the girls. Rita continues to be active in Girl Scouts. She led the annual campout to Newport Beach over the summer, and keeps busy organizing other troop activities. For her Mother’s Day in August she received a baby dragon sculpture for the garden, and for her birthday she loved the ”Harry Potter” themed Jelly Belly vending machine we bought surplus from a candy shop in Jackson. At Halloween she added a large inflatable skull to the roof of the house; she affectionately refers to him as “Achmed”.<br />Anne’s highlights for the year included her East Coast trip with her 8th grade class, from Washington DC to Boston in less than seven days. She also was treated to a “backstage” tour of Disney Imagineering from a friend of ours. Anne hopes one day to become an Imagineer, and the tour, which was incorporated into a school career report, was quite inspiring to her. She graduated with honors from Carmenita Middle School in June.<br /> This year also marks the first year both the girls have Disneyland Annual Passports, so they can take advantage of our proximity to the Park and visit as much as they both can stand. Anne is a rabid Disney fan, and Emily loves Tinkerbell, and they both love a few hours a month running around Disneyland parent-free.<br />Summer Camps for both girls this year included Surfing at Huntington Beach, improv/theater camp at the local Community College, and of course Girl Scout camps both in Long Beach and up in the mountains near Idyllwild.<br />Emily finished up 6th grade and took part in the school play and the talent show, and did a wonderful job with both. She was accepted to Whitney school and decided to go, reluctantly at first, but she now loves it. She was encouraged to attend the same school by both her parents, for the reasons previously mentioned (there’s a bus!)<br />The really BIG news is the purchase of Chris and Rita’s retirement property in the town of Pine Grove, California, in the northern part of the state, about an hour’s drive southeast of Sacramento. There is not much on the acre-and-a-third parcel except for a couple of shacks. One of these “outbuildings” will become a bunkhouse of sorts, someplace to stay while we are working on the property. Chris is quite excited to get out of the greater Los Angeles area after the girls are out of High School. The property purchase gives him some hope this may actually happen! The land is wooded and lies at the 2300 foot level. The well, septic, and power were put in by the former owner, so all we have to do is drop in a house and shop in the future (among other things).<br />Chris continues to restore the steam locomotive in Portola with his team. It will be a long term job but one he enjoys. Every so often he even makes it out to the garage to work on one of his projects, or somebody else’s. He has several more lifetimes of projects ahead of him.<br />Missy continues to take care of all of us, and enjoys napping and barking at the UPS truck.<br />That’s about it for now. We wish all of you a joyous Christmas, and a happy, prosperous, and safe 2011.<br /></a>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-38193242075867110202010-02-05T12:48:00.001-08:002010-02-05T12:52:25.118-08:00Happy Birthday Anne!<strong>Anne celebrated her 14th birthday on the 3rd. We are all very proud of her accomplishments and how well she is doing in school. Tomorrow she is going to Madame Tussaud's wax museum in Hollywood with her friend to be followed by lunch at the Hard Rock. We love you sweetie! - <em>Chris</em></strong><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIuW5r-UaOJCI2srRK7ucLVmZZ88SwQlXhtLbLFS8AyDHeolknQSfvxug_xUvPP5w0pzEBQwA8qnD2awGVJKk10P8UNbndbGd_qyzAAVJdK9V4bmaw1jOkPyavN7gRy8gRCIQ0Ai_h7hE/s1600-h/IMG_0097.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434864336204945058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIuW5r-UaOJCI2srRK7ucLVmZZ88SwQlXhtLbLFS8AyDHeolknQSfvxug_xUvPP5w0pzEBQwA8qnD2awGVJKk10P8UNbndbGd_qyzAAVJdK9V4bmaw1jOkPyavN7gRy8gRCIQ0Ai_h7hE/s400/IMG_0097.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#666666;"><strong>Anne's friends decorated her locker as a surprise on her birthday.<br /></strong></span></em></div>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-23951461778107333252010-01-05T19:12:00.000-08:002010-01-05T19:23:54.983-08:00Happy Birthday Emily!<div><strong>Emily celebrated her twelfth birthday today. The family took her out to Mimi's for dinner, and she picked out a chocolate cake at Trader Joe's. On Saturday she will have her friends over for a mystery dinner. They grow up fast! Happy birthday sweetie! <em>- Chris</em></strong></div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXk80z2aitdsiM6qOdfk0szXOCPA42QIU-stbXeyhReiudJd3CjXTgIh6XnFveGs0DT72krhZMF7sZhYCgUAfNziBwEds4n9jW66G37m5JZ3263NMyoucEypaT57PMCHFsmywtGJSMIUY/s1600-h/IMG_0075+(Large).jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423461266508458994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXk80z2aitdsiM6qOdfk0szXOCPA42QIU-stbXeyhReiudJd3CjXTgIh6XnFveGs0DT72krhZMF7sZhYCgUAfNziBwEds4n9jW66G37m5JZ3263NMyoucEypaT57PMCHFsmywtGJSMIUY/s400/IMG_0075+(Large).jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"><em>Emily gets ready to blow them out!</em></span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mqE2HzGRM4iiaB4SO3k54EEbN43IDrv0GI9BB2Vd4t0DRQeEb9B31Icel3mxALjp4NkkhkNPcMUZSfnjJf5UqTw04speZiRTNgODvXbgUf8LvjnyaZ2xa3TatVBHheXrNJrl-yqrIGLN/s1600-h/IMG_0078+(Large).jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423461589278903602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mqE2HzGRM4iiaB4SO3k54EEbN43IDrv0GI9BB2Vd4t0DRQeEb9B31Icel3mxALjp4NkkhkNPcMUZSfnjJf5UqTw04speZiRTNgODvXbgUf8LvjnyaZ2xa3TatVBHheXrNJrl-yqrIGLN/s400/IMG_0078+(Large).jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><em>Delicious chocolate cake!</em></span></div>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-90682269809419489352009-12-07T11:27:00.000-08:002009-12-07T11:31:44.116-08:00End of Year Update for 2009<em>In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!' ~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"<br /></em><br />On that note we would like to welcome you to the 2009 edition of the Allan Family Christmas letter. Another year has come and gone. Some events in our lives were happy, some sad. We have again persevered, and hope the same holds true for all of you.<br /><br />Life here in Lakewood continues to exemplify the dream that is Southern California; traffic, noise, shopping and nonstop coming and going. All of us here have a lot going on, and a lot to be thankful for. We all still like (or at least tolerate) each other and in the end that’s pretty good!<br /><br />Rita continues her Girl Scout mission which serves to get Anne and Emily out of their bedroom at least occasionally. Nut sales have wound up for the year, and cookies are getting ready to crank up. They are saving up for a troop cruise in a few years, something to look forward to. Caltrans work is still keeping a roof over our head, but Gov. Arnold has seen fit to put Rita on “Furlough Fridays” three days a month, which does eat into our savings a bit. Hopefully that will all end by June 2010, we remain optimistic. The rest of Rita’s time is spent reading with the Kindle, her form of escapism. Recently she relayed the floor in the kitchen and installed a dishwasher, all in one huge day of effort, which her back muscles didn’t appreciate.<br /><br />Chris still has a few projects in the works. The locomotive restoration in Portola, Ca. (his form of escapism) continues. Sadly he lost one of his best pals, Dana Greeley, this past spring. Dana was a great guy Chris has known for most of his adult life, and was of late helping him out in Portola. Another smaller narrow-gauge locomotive is being restored for a private individual here in So Cal. This one is named “Apollo” and was rescued from an abandoned gold mining operation in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Due to financial constraints not much time has been spent on his own projects unfortunately. He takes joy in driving the girls back and forth to school, and looks forward to a trip up north to Concord right after Christmas. Other activities include honing his cooking skills, and internet-scouting various possible locales for the move to up north after the girls are in college.<br /><br />Anne is now 13, and is in eighth grade at Carmenita Middle School in Cerritos. She is doing very well grade-wise, and is active in other activities there including leadership, and tutoring. There is lots of homework during the week, but enjoys her Sims computer game, and of late, oil painting during her brief periods of downtime. Anne also helps out at the local county library on Wednesdays after school reading to the little kids, and helping the librarian organizing things, etc. Her summer highlight was summer surf camp in Huntington Beach. Anne is quite adept in the water, and even got good enough to stand up on the board a few times. Next fall she enters high school. Yikes!<br /><br />Emily is (until January) eleven years old, and is in sixth grade, her last year at Nixon Elementary. Next year she will take her sister’s place at Carmenita Middle. She enjoys a lot of the same things her sister does. Emily is Dad’s “sous chef” in the kitchen most nights, and has learned to make a mean hollandaise sauce! She enjoyed a week at horse camp this past summer in Bonsall, in northern San Diego County. This was her first long trip alone away from home, and she did great.<br /><br />For the first time in many years (if ever) we took a family vacation together. After some deliberation we decided on a few days over on Catalina Island. The whole adventure can be perused in our summer update blog post. Suffice to say it was a relaxing time away from home, which we all needed. A nice change of scenery was a good thing.<br /><br />Aside from some other omissions that may have escaped our frazzled brains, that was about it for 2009. We look forward to another busy year in 2010. We send our love to all of you, and hope to see many of you soon. Missy the dog would really like that too. She loves visitors, as do we all!<br /><br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all,<br /><br />The Allan Family<br />Chris Rita Anne Emily MissyChris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-82912681160623253262009-10-03T13:59:00.001-07:002009-10-03T15:09:26.719-07:00Time for Girl Scout Fall Sales!It's that time again! Anne and Emily would like everyone to know that Girl Scout nut, candy and magazine sales are on. Click on on the product page below for details and pricing. Please email your nut and candy orders to Rita directly: <a href="mailto:gscglb_troop138@yahoo.com">gscglb_troop138@yahoo.com</a><br />Deadline for orders is Monday October 12th. Delivery is scheduled for November 9th.<br /><br />Magazine orders may be made online <a href="http://girlscouts.qsp.com/store/SetSession.aspx?SupporterID=6270960&TemplateEmailID=15&SiteID=12&AccountID=476267&ParticipantID=2593927&extTrackID=Email01&LanguageId=1"><strong>here</strong></a>.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNv45lQy5PfMJhZ3DhB3aPpIuGOPGLo9Od_iEKOoVZyCs85_R-LwsmBIcgP0kohQE3at0jO2RYs2Z-gZc2erysthS2kQsVWUKsY3mM00zGGaRgPLftUNyGOdm9ZOEvi6AuWcS7_ve8b5Q/s1600-h/Nut+Varieties09+(Large).jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 309px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388491759795600226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNv45lQy5PfMJhZ3DhB3aPpIuGOPGLo9Od_iEKOoVZyCs85_R-LwsmBIcgP0kohQE3at0jO2RYs2Z-gZc2erysthS2kQsVWUKsY3mM00zGGaRgPLftUNyGOdm9ZOEvi6AuWcS7_ve8b5Q/s400/Nut+Varieties09+(Large).jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"><em><strong>Click to enlarge.</strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#333333;">Thanks to everyone for your past and future support! Have a great Fall season!</span></div><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><em>-Anne and Emily Allan</em></span>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-88564681189110261612009-09-20T13:54:00.000-07:002009-09-21T10:29:21.973-07:00Allan Family Summer Report 2009Except for the customary first-day-of-fall heat wave, summer has run its course here in Lakewood. Some great plans were hatched in the spring, some saw their way to completion; others simply vanished into the ether. In any event it was a typically busy season. For some of us new frontiers were explored, and for others among us (namely me) there were the good times and some not-so-good.<br /><br />Approaching this strictly chronologically, summer 2009 kicked off with Emily going off for a week in Bonsall (just north of San Diego) to horse camp. <a href="http://www.rawhideranch.com/">Rawhide Ranch</a> is an interesting conglomeration of old west facades, swimming pools complete with water slide, teepees, covered wagons and every type of critter that man has domesticated to date. Oh yea, and horses, lots of horses. This was Emily’s first foray away from home, and she did real well. Thanks to all of you who sent her cards and letters that week! Her counselor was a petite blond girl from Northern Ireland, but I still maintained her accent mutated into a California “valley girl” drawl, despite what Rita thinks. Many of the counselors there seemed to be from abroad, I suppose there are few places to experience the “wild west” in the British Isles, or anywhere else, for that matter.<br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VIV_qpDBxTI6MHni6R6JMSNDf8gqQsF4A46rAlYcH2ksKbkFdH8tV7k85XBfFTmgWPzmNgWgIEkftGThXQDtY-3p63zhImrVSIwCOtV_Aj5P3Mug4zOx-Ct_mSzkpJucdjHzCa9c95sj/s1600-h/DSCN3780.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383656502582460162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VIV_qpDBxTI6MHni6R6JMSNDf8gqQsF4A46rAlYcH2ksKbkFdH8tV7k85XBfFTmgWPzmNgWgIEkftGThXQDtY-3p63zhImrVSIwCOtV_Aj5P3Mug4zOx-Ct_mSzkpJucdjHzCa9c95sj/s400/DSCN3780.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>At the end of the week the camp holds a rodeo of sorts and every kid gets to strut their stuff. Emily came out with the last group on horseback, and did a great job of holding on while she galloped, trotted and much to my surprise, put the beast into reverse. She had a great week living the life of a ranch hand.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzZGIXDFYkINyVQQPvu8RsF1k0O0uzNZD4YTaEHz3F1iYXjAsRr1_9sg6UUzuE-uloCLfKyIXiFRQPpcuy0ICdphSQIU-8e2JgbH4m1LLBtR-7nXfz_BpdOXdmCyDzL9Y7La5gpseiZvi/s1600-h/P1030357.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383656308095397826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzZGIXDFYkINyVQQPvu8RsF1k0O0uzNZD4YTaEHz3F1iYXjAsRr1_9sg6UUzuE-uloCLfKyIXiFRQPpcuy0ICdphSQIU-8e2JgbH4m1LLBtR-7nXfz_BpdOXdmCyDzL9Y7La5gpseiZvi/s400/P1030357.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div><br />Each of the girls spent time this summer at the Skyland Girl Scout camp in the mountains near Idyllwild. Anne worked as a counselor/helper for one week, and joined Emily (and a lot of other girls) as a camper for a second week. They got to hang out with friends, and make some new ones. The week they were both gone was the same week I was in Portola, so Rita only had our dog Missy to talk to.<br /><p></p></div><div>I spent a week in July up in northern California at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola working on the <a href="http://wprrsteam.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-2009-workweek-report.html">steam locomotive we are slowly restoring</a>. At the beginning of that week one of my dear friends died unexpectedly, suffice to say that cast a bummer of a shadow on the rest of the work session. I felt a bit better when I was able to meet up with an old friend, Jim Blake, in from the east coast and tour him around our museum, he likes trains too, go figure! I also had lunch with another old friend, Rick Mugele, in nearby Quincy which was a nice break from locomotive work. At the very least we got some work done, and I enjoyed a break from the constant din of the I-605 freeway. That was pretty much the highlight of my summer.<br /><br /><p>Anne’s choice for a “specialty” camp this year was surfing. Rita found a day program with the City of Huntington Beach, which is fairly close to us. Anne found out that surfing 6 hours a day is actual exercise, so she had to take the Thursday of that week off to recover and recharge, but by Friday she was standing on the board and doing all the cool stuff surfer chicks do.</p><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR-IC-9rW3M-742ytIqqSd0aVOFbjrrn7gJCLFHFl-5mU_VwBBcWTfJ3KAnDtglfc2g9LGH_9cVpNRVsjUUGp1oqCZin8kDjx9jUX8Jsw_xzTbCYJBZacX2f_ZEHvPjiWHNCUTeluec9m/s1600-h/P1030406.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383656843807017282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR-IC-9rW3M-742ytIqqSd0aVOFbjrrn7gJCLFHFl-5mU_VwBBcWTfJ3KAnDtglfc2g9LGH_9cVpNRVsjUUGp1oqCZin8kDjx9jUX8Jsw_xzTbCYJBZacX2f_ZEHvPjiWHNCUTeluec9m/s400/P1030406.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDr8fHmcSnTmYarT2RC-m-VcKlseuiQxeeQ27RY6Wkj6a9VCZI5f835n4gdT53ZVg0jNJmUs5mZbx1CvK0XF7es2O_uJ6CqeixxxeTEACLArbtQg0fKS5s-lVMzMdv6l2cyrQwbtBKoJ-6/s1600-h/P1030411.JPG"></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6GuHA5u8o7YpG82N-F1hGika-XXrhDrf7HbawVq4hH8Oj-77J6SGaSURJnXAmYHX_YPhGB_5DNOaArTMC9DtGmTLcQSwM_Wk93Pkw9NWJFEVc4CHkjH6FxntuCV0yzVAlzcgTK-SJ1hu/s1600-h/P1030411.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383657176837397250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6GuHA5u8o7YpG82N-F1hGika-XXrhDrf7HbawVq4hH8Oj-77J6SGaSURJnXAmYHX_YPhGB_5DNOaArTMC9DtGmTLcQSwM_Wk93Pkw9NWJFEVc4CHkjH6FxntuCV0yzVAlzcgTK-SJ1hu/s400/P1030411.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /><br />As a family we decided to go on a trip together this year, which we haven’t done in a very long time, if ever. Originally the destination was Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula to visit the little town of Forks, Washington, which was the filming location for one of the vampire movies the girls liked at the time. The prospect of sitting in the truck for extended periods didn’t appeal to the Anne or Emily so this week long trip was culled down to two and a half days on Catalina Island. </div><div><br />After talking Rita’s cousin Teresa into dog sitting, we were off to the Island. The town of Avalon, on Catalina, is a cute little town sort of stuck in the 1950’s, which was fine by me. Visiting Avalon is a bit like a visit to an older, gentler Los Angeles, so this town has always been on my “LA Bucket List” of things to do before we leave town for good. I have been to Catalina before, but only to Boy Scout camp as a youthful lad. The camp was way on the north end of the island, and if memory serves, the stay wasn’t always too pleasant.<br /></div><div></div><div><p>Due to the lack of wave action on the leeward side of the Island, where Avalon is located, the girls weren’t too terribly interested in getting in the water, so we took advantage of some of the other amenities afforded us, like the newly refurbished miniature golf course, and a truck tour up Skyline Drive to the Airport in the Sky. Yes, they really call it that, even though it’s actually sitting on top of a mountain, not floating in the air like Cloud City in the Star Wars movies. False advertising. As close as we got to the water was a ride on the Glass Bottom Boat, which is a famous old attraction in Avalon. They drop buckets of food into the water so the fish come up to the boat. The skipper also told us which ones were the tastiest; I guess I will have to take his word for it. I don’t mind looking at fish, but eating them is another matter. The remainder of our time was spent browsing, eating and enjoying the air conditioning in our suite at the Atwater Hotel.</p></div><div><p></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMBpcn31yc-O_ioTRh0emTL6kls1m1LtqvsJtAFub-DZ1k4XMKcab57nPyotjIOrVIzO3qKO89ri8baVRScCTxcCIt8efg3GDpIk_ygLKJdl28SF_sDvMTJkMfyr3i3adDqbYy72R9YBy/s1600-h/Copy+of+P1030682.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383657924371887634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMBpcn31yc-O_ioTRh0emTL6kls1m1LtqvsJtAFub-DZ1k4XMKcab57nPyotjIOrVIzO3qKO89ri8baVRScCTxcCIt8efg3GDpIk_ygLKJdl28SF_sDvMTJkMfyr3i3adDqbYy72R9YBy/s400/Copy+of+P1030682.JPG" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0gr0nd2CFHPtfX9MEJr_ruW0rznloeXAcHhikm88lTBakKNxzqryik_lQn1Ar5D8-CmjkRzJ71E5vH6DqCXfePBWuEQazoVS3d6yTI3cJtCQJgnk35FG2hMMSbb3HeB5XkSdQ9wH8CnZ/s1600-h/P1030479.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383657915581176626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0gr0nd2CFHPtfX9MEJr_ruW0rznloeXAcHhikm88lTBakKNxzqryik_lQn1Ar5D8-CmjkRzJ71E5vH6DqCXfePBWuEQazoVS3d6yTI3cJtCQJgnk35FG2hMMSbb3HeB5XkSdQ9wH8CnZ/s400/P1030479.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Bu1pPxcnjjR45pKnv0LMK5FWzC2lEKw366VcLoY8Bh_iayow_a_am_viv6y3iLFOco1jsi0ocsjOnSWDewniQWFsAh46HnadRieLNj5LFpEI23bzn4UoyIb_7o7dLbSwUulB8VmhzyIt/s1600-h/Copy+of+P1030689.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383657906497140306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Bu1pPxcnjjR45pKnv0LMK5FWzC2lEKw366VcLoY8Bh_iayow_a_am_viv6y3iLFOco1jsi0ocsjOnSWDewniQWFsAh46HnadRieLNj5LFpEI23bzn4UoyIb_7o7dLbSwUulB8VmhzyIt/s400/Copy+of+P1030689.JPG" /></a> </div><div><a href="http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i67/allan_family/Catalina%202009/">More Catalina trip photos here.</a></div><div><br />Shortly after our trip to Catalina, Rita and the girls, along with the rest of their Girl Scout troop camped out for a couple days on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Of course "camping" is a relative term given the accomodation was a Girl Scout troop house on the main drag adjacent to the beach. Luckily the gi-nourmous waves Newport was seeing subsided in time for the trip, and no water rescues were necessary this time. The girls led by one of the other troop moms put on a skit one evening as an appreciation for Rita, who has been ably leading this troop since the girls were at Daisy level. <p>We are back to the routine, both Anne and Emily are back to school in 8th and 6th grades, repectively. A sweltering end to an interesting summer. The Santana winds are due this week, which means yet another hellish heat wave. Many houses in Lakewood, including ours are sans air conditioning due to our close-ish proximity to the ocean, which doesn’t seem to mean much anymore. Perhaps as I get older I tolerate heat less. Perhaps I don’t tolerate many things as well I have in the past.<br />Thanks for visiting my rambling blog. FYI- Girl Scout sales of nuts and magazines is coming up, so you can look forward to hearing from us soon! </p><em>-Chris<br /></em><div></div></div>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-20082882178993238492009-08-05T09:35:00.001-07:002009-08-05T09:39:16.778-07:00Mermaid EmilyRita took this yesterday, August 4th. Emily trying out her new Mermaid tail in a friend's pool. They grow up so fast! And they seem to grow tails even faster! Today is Rita's birthday, we plan to take here out tonight to a restaurant yet to be determined. Happy Birthday Hun! <em>- Chris</em><br /><em></em><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOuI-sGtlueb7EOVQvOEDzECWDE4KqgysO-NjXOGjjDUHZCalkHqtsoU6OwWZsx7zIteiHW-8JLKLk45UOr64ULzmusW3IgZ0gbH8wRhHZ4IYbhwxGYzJLxi-A2pdHsZaKIwAvl768rTq/s1600-h/DSCN3785.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366519998425449266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOuI-sGtlueb7EOVQvOEDzECWDE4KqgysO-NjXOGjjDUHZCalkHqtsoU6OwWZsx7zIteiHW-8JLKLk45UOr64ULzmusW3IgZ0gbH8wRhHZ4IYbhwxGYzJLxi-A2pdHsZaKIwAvl768rTq/s400/DSCN3785.JPG" /></a></p>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-943926970757925499.post-74558207877040653902009-05-21T11:56:00.000-07:002009-10-05T13:38:03.416-07:00A Prayer for GrandmaHello everyone,<br /><br />I have started this blog to replace the family website pages that I no longer update. This is a much easier method for me to keep everyone informed as to what is going on here in Lakewood. I thought I would start with a prayer Jim wrote and read at Grandma's funeral. Mom sent a copy to me and I transcribed it for posterity. It is very heartfelt and nicely done. Kudos to my brother, who is becoming quite a writer. We will miss Grandma, see celebrated her 100th birthday in the previous November, and I am personally very happy she led such a rich, long life. Enjoy Jim's work, I will be back in a couple weeks with updates on Mother's Day, our upcoming trip to Concord, Tilden park and more. Take care. <em>-Chris</em><br /><br /><em><strong>A Prayer for Grandma</strong></em><br /><em><strong>By James Allan, 4/20/2009</strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>Dear Lord,</strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>Thank you for the gift of our Grandmother Lucille Knipping. You blessed her as your beloved treasure. You gave her the longevity of 100 years. You made her a mother and continued to let her become a great-great grandmother. You gifted her with a husband of fifty years. You surrounded her with true friends and neighbors whose work is that of angels. When she could not walk outside you brought your creatures to her door; the hummingbirds, the quail and even a frog just outside her doorstep.</strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>Grandma’s hands were gifted by you. With love she patiently crocheted blankets and hats for her grandchildren. She was humble and giving in her craft. This Easter Your risen hands reached out to her with the Divine Mercy. We are saying “Jesus I trust in You”. Our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Blessed Mother and all your angels and saints, lifted their beautiful hands with great joy, raising her to heaven to reunite with all her beloved.</strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>In our lives we touch others with love and that love becomes a part of us. Grandma’s treasure of love through God will remain with us all. In our stories we will share the special memories of her with our children. We will watch the love that she once cradled us with grow into the love to carry our own children. This love is through Jesus Christ who holds all our hands. And in Christ’s hands Grandma has been cradled up to heaven.</strong></em><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br /><p align="center"><em><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOfAQ0si6F1_Krh7ZAuRgs31CXpvut-ybIG_hUjgRIfHwYqAGOTd61q_nES72k1gRScHEe4OpvSyp8iY7M9cCdQJj1znn-y3nrRyehdqGgUsKsJAbLkdD1zRv5F_JvUtgnd4BamMwZTSl/s1600-h/poppies.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338355102692815042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOfAQ0si6F1_Krh7ZAuRgs31CXpvut-ybIG_hUjgRIfHwYqAGOTd61q_nES72k1gRScHEe4OpvSyp8iY7M9cCdQJj1znn-y3nrRyehdqGgUsKsJAbLkdD1zRv5F_JvUtgnd4BamMwZTSl/s400/poppies.jpg" /></a></strong></em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"><strong><em>Photo by Mary.</em></strong></span></p>Chris Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10889678496431542838noreply@blogger.com0