Relaxing at Solage Spa in Calistoga

We have always enjoyed dining at the fabulous Solbar Restaurant in Calistoga, especially when we spent time at the Indian Springs Resort. We have never stayed at the Solage Spa, but Inna wanted to try it, so we booked the "Just the Two of Us" promotion for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

We arrived on Friday afternoon and checked in. The drive from San Jose to Calistoga was uneventful, and we especially enjoyed the fall colors. Deciduous trees were turning yellow, red, and all colors in between. After checking in at Solbar's reception (and enjoying some chai tea), we changed and took a short swim in Solage's mineral pool.

After enjoying a relaxing swim in the mineral pool, we split up. I went to the men's steam room and jacuzzi while Inna went to the women's section. The mineral pool is restricted to adults 18 and older, so Alex could not stay there for 30 minutes.

However, we enjoyed time in the pool, then returned to our room to prepare for dinner at Solbar.

Since it was pretty cold outside, we decided to eat inside. I ordered a soup, "Butternut Squash Velouté," to start my dining adventure, followed by "Slow Roasted Engrilled Lamb Shoulder."

Both dishes were simply fabulous. The lamb shoulder was incredibly delicious! I cannot recall eating a better-cooked lamb dish. This dish makes Solbar a Michelin 1-star!

Inna started with a "salad," followed by "Seared Day Boat Diver Scallops."

Both dishes were really fantastic.

For dessert, we decided to share a few dishes. I ordered "Butterscotch Rum Pudding" to share with Inna, and she called it a "Chocolate Marquise."

The butterscotch pudding was divine. I wish I could eat it all over again.

Alex ordered some "Dulce de Leche" ice cream with chocolate syrup on the side.

After dinner, we went back home and played a few games. We played Words with Friends, and I won, with Alex coming in second and Inna coming in third.

Saturday, November 28

In the morning, I decided to work early in Solage's gym. The gym is not very big but has all top-of-the-line exercise equipment (except rowing machines and stair masters). I decided to exercise for 30 minutes on the jogging track and 20 minutes on the stationary bike. I also did a few bench presses. As it was getting late for breakfast, I rushed back, and we returned to Solbar for our delicious breakfast.

Inna ordered "Mt. Washington Eggs". They were exceptional!

I ordered the famous "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes." They are my favorite pancakes, and I always come to Solbar for breakfast!

The pancakes were outstanding, as expected! I really enjoyed them.

After our delicious breakfast, we had many appointments lined up. Inna booked a couples massage and a mud treatment (which I have never tried before).

From 10:30am to 11:30am, we experienced a very nice couples massage. Inna and I shared a room while the two massage therapists applied pressure to relieve stress. I felt fantastic!
After the massage ended, we had another hour before the next treatment, so we went for a short swim in the nearby mineral pool. It was so lovely and refreshing.

At 12:30 pm, we came back for our mud treatment. Each of us was handed a bucket of volcanic mud flavored with perfume (that we selected). We were guided to a private room, where we applied the volcanic mud all over our bodies and waited 20 minutes for it to settle. The volcanic mud is supposed to detoxify one's skin. I felt great afterward, but I can't say I felt any different.

After the beautiful mud treatment, we were guided to a soaker tub, where we relaxed in warm water for 15-20 minutes. After the tub, we headed to another private room, where we took a long nap while listening to relaxing music. We had a wonderful, relaxing time at the spa and would love to return.

After the spa treatment, we returned to our room to check on Ale, then headed to lunch at Sam's Social Club, a new restaurant at the Indian Springs Resort.

Sam's Social Club has attractive interior decor, reminiscent of the quaint olden days of California.

I ordered a "Mushroom Scramble," which was not bad.

Alex ordered a "Margherita Pizza," which he enjoyed a lot.

Inna ordered an "Egg in a Hole." She really liked it.

After lunch, we decided to go for a bike ride in downtown Calistoga. It was a bit late and cold, so we did not bike far.

We returned to Solage in time to rest and play a few board games before heading for dinner at Bouchon Bistro in nearby Yountville.

We have been coming to Bouchon whenever we head for Napa/Sonoma wine country. However, we were not as impressed on this visit (as in previous visits).

I ordered a "Salade de Cresson et d'Endives au Roquefort, Pommes et Noix". While it looked pretty presentable, it was nothing special.

Inna ordered a "Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud". It was also nothing special.

We did not order wine (because it's usually overpriced in these restaurants).

I ordered lamb (to compare it with the most delicious lamb at Solbar). Unfortunately, Bouchon's lamb was vastly inferior to Solbar's. I don't think Bouchon deserves a Michelin 1-star anymore.

Inna ordered a "Pasta with Lobster" special entree. While it was delicious, she was not ecstatically happy about it.

Alex was not very hungry, so he just ate some French Fries.

I was looking forward to trying a delicious dessert, but I was headed for disappointment again.

While the cake looked inviting, it did not taste exceptional.

Alex ordered some ice cream but was unhappy with the small scoops.

We were not very happy with dinner at Bouchon. I hope Thomas Keller gets his act together because I would rather eat at Solbar (which is vastly better).

Inna was also upset about one other aspect of Bouchon. After returning from the restroom, she commented about the filthy state of the ladies' restroom. A Michelin 1-star restaurant should be better than that.

Sunday, November 28

Morning greeted us with some frost, and we dressed warmly before heading for breakfast.

The steam from the heated swimming pool was rising.

We had another delicious breakfast in Solbar. This time, Inna and Alex ordered the famous "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes"! Everyone loved them!

After breakfast, we decided to enjoy the mineral springs pool some more.

We enjoyed a swim in the pool, followed by some time in the steam room.

We had a very relaxing morning.

After breakfast, we decided to try out the local Foosball machine. Alex and I played three games, and I lost 2 to 1.

It was time for lunch, so we decided to try the local New Orleans-themed Evangeline restaurant.
I ordered the Chicken and Waffle combination. It was perfect, but not as spicy as I had expected (having lived in Houston, Texas, near Louisiana).

Inna ordered the "Rosti" dish.

After lunch, we stopped by the V. Sattui Winery briefly, where we usually buy our wine for the year (since it's not sold in stores). We purchased a case with six bottles of Gamay Rouge and six bottles of Muscat - our favorite wines.

We had a great getaway to Calistoga and hope to be back someday.

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Review: "Riverdance" at San Jose Center for Performing Arts

Inna purchased two front-row tickets to Riverdance at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts for my birthday.

I didn't know what to expect, as I had never seen it before and knew Michael Flatley no longer danced in this show.

We had a great view of the performance from the front row and enjoyed the dancers' energy. It was well-performed and enjoyable. I especially liked the Flamenco Dancer and the drummer (who played with great enthusiasm and energy).

According to Wikipedia:

Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. Featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler and Michael Flatley, and with a score composed by Limerick native Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval performance act during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. Since then, the show has visited over 450 venues worldwide and been seen by over 25 million people, making it one of the most successful dance productions in the world.

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Windsurfing Coyote Point

I usually don't windsurf in November due to the cold weather and lack of wind.

However, yesterday, I saw a forecast for 25+ knot winds, and I started to get tempted.
The air temperature was 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and I noticed the Pacific water temperature was also about the same (unusually warm).

I tried it and drove to Coyote Point, my closest windsurfing destination (about 45-50 minutes). Since I haven't windsurfed this year, I didn't want to drive too far.

When I arrived at around 13:00, the wind was gusting to 30 knots, and a few crazy souls were out there on their 4.2 sq. m sail and trim boards. I rigged my old (ancient) Ezzy Wave 4.2 sail and took out my old but trusty Mistral Ecstasy (84-liter).

I recorded parts of the crazy session on my GoPro Hero in high def:

When I launched, I was surprised by the gusty wind. I was catapulted a few times until I could finally get in the straps and scream across the bay.

After about 45 minutes of this intense windsurfing, I was totally beat. I must be really out of shape!
I had a great session, and I am happy to have been able to sail in mid-November.

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Biking Saratoga Gap and Peters Creek

As the weather was sunny and mild, I decided to try to mountain bike the Saratoga Gap and Peters Creek trail in Saratoga (starting at the Vista Point parking lot at the intersection of Highway 9 and Skyline Boulevard).

Initially, I wanted to ride this trail with the South Bay Mountain Bike group on meetup, but there was no space (8 people had already made reservations, and I was placed on a waiting list). I decided to ride anyway, as I had the map and my iPhone 5S for GPS and tracking.

I arrived just before 10:00 am (right at the meetup time) and was surprised that most of those 8 people did not attend. I decided to go along with the rest of the crew.

I was on my 20-year-old Specialized Ground Control complete suspension bike (about to be retired) for a new-to-me 2011 Specialized S-works FSR.

The trail started with an easy climb to a single track with an excellent green tree cover. I recorded a GoPro video of my ride on this nice Saratoga Gap trail.

The ride took about 2.5 hours, and we stopped a few times to wait for everyone to catch up. I really liked this trail - it's not as tiresome as Quicksilver - but it is more scenic with many different sections of single track and technical descents. I hope to ride it once again.

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Specialized StumpJumper FSR

I have been riding my old 1997 Specialized Ground Control on all sorts of trails for 18 years. It cost me $1,399 back in 1997 when I lived in Sacramento and biked on nearby trails and near Lake Tahoe.

Recently, when it came time to do maintenance, I took it to the nearby Summit Bicycles. The mechanics there told me that my bike was completely obsolete and that everything needed replacing. I would be better off getting a newer bike.

My old Specialized came with V-brakes - while today's mountain bikes all have hydraulic disc brakes. There were many modern suspension improvements as well.

My long search for a replacement bike began. At first, I considered buying a brand new one, but the bike prices have appreciated dramatically. At the local shops, decent bikes with carbon frames were going for over $3k. I decided to look for a nice used bike on Craigslist.

After many fruitless searches, I found a decent bike - a 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works FSR Carbon Full Suspension in Pleasanton. It came loaded with all Shimano XTR and SRAM X0 components and looked in proper condition. After some price negotiation, I decided to buy it.

Frame: Full Carbon
Size: Med
Fork: Fox FutureShock w/ Brain
Rear Suspension: Fox FutureShock w/ Brain
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X0
Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR
Shifters: SRAM X0
Brakes: Shimano XTR (ICE Tech Rotors)
Cranks: Shimano XTR
Chain: Shimano XTR (replaced with Shimano XT)
Cassette: Shimano XTR (replaced with Shimano XT)
Headset: Cane Creek
Stemp: Thompson Elite X3
Handle Bar: Specialized Carbon
Seat Post: Rock Shox Reverb (Dropper Post)
Seat: WTB Pure V
Grips: Specialized Body Geometry (replaced)
Wheels: Roval Control E5
Tires: WTB Weirwolf 2.3

Once I purchased it, I took it to my local Los Gatos Bicycles bike shop for a thorough evaluation. The mechanics found the chain, cassette, and two chainrings worn out. I had everything replaced, but it cost me another $400.

I tried out the new-to-me specialized FSR and liked it a lot. The disc brakes are more responsive, and the dropper post helps going downhill.

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Intro to Dirt at Hollister Hills SVRA

I became interested in learning to ride a dirt bike in August and enrolled in the Intro to Dirt class at Garrahan Off-Road Training.

The two-day class takes place in Hollister, CA, and Brian Garrahan provides all the dirt bikes.

Day 1 - Saturday, October 24, 2015

I got up early, around 6:30am, to prepare for the drive to Hollister. My iPhone showed relatively cold weather - 48F - so I brought a pullover, which was never needed.

I arrived at the Hollister Hills SRVA around 08:40 (it was a one-hour drive with almost no traffic). Brian was setting up all of the dirt bikes and unloading all of the protective gear.

As a street rider, I was surprised by how much gear was used. I put on knee pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, body armor, and motocross boots in addition to my helmet.

Brian selected a Honda CRF150 for me. It was not too small, not too big, and very light (compared to my previous street bikes).

After putting on all the gear, Brian explained the techniques we needed to use on dirt bikes. Unlike street bikes, dirt bikes require a lot more body movement, and he showed us how to move our bodies forward during acceleration and backward during braking.

We rode a few rounds on the nearby Vintage track to warm up. I dropped the bike on the first loop (a very sandy track), but got used to it after a while.

We continued with more dirt bike drills, learning to brake smoothly, accelerate, slide the rear wheel, and turn the bike.

After all the drills, we did a loop around the Adobe trail - a very gently rolling trail in Hollister. We returned to get lunch and drink some water. Inna packed me a delicious soup, and I enjoyed eating it. By this time, the temperature at Hollister had become a balmy 84F, and I was sweating like a pig.

After lunch, we did a few more drills and rode through a more challenging track. I dropped the bike once (again on a sandy surface when I lost traction).

I had a fun day, but it was a bit tiring. I am looking forward to the next day.

Day 2 - Sunday, October 24, 2015

I arrived at the Hollister Hills SRVA around 08:40 (it was a one-hour drive with almost no traffic). I dressed quickly since I had all my protective gear from Saturday's ride.

We got going right around 9:00am, and we were off to a warm-up on the nearby track, followed by a short trail ride and more drills.

I felt much more confident on this second day of dirt biking, but I crashed more often. I may have become too sure.

I shot a video of our first morning ride with my GoPro Hero 4 Silver mounted on the handlebars. We started our ride on the accessible "Harmony Gate Road" trail.



I shot another GoPro Hero 4 video of riding the "Middle Field," "Tank," and "Adobe" trails.



What I found most challenging was riding the bike in the stand-up position. It's much harder to shift gears this way, and I had trouble with the rear brake. I shot another video of my training ride.



I had a lot of fun in this class and hope to do it again to develop more confidence.

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Review: Amazon Fire TV and the battery compartment from hell

I have been a big fan of Roku3 and Home Theater PCs for a long time. Although it does not support many video formats, it works well with my Plex server on a Synology DS1815+ NAS. Plex can transcode any current movie/TV format to whatever format Roku (or another front-end supports.

I was excited that Amazon released a Fire TV version that supported 4K and voice search - ahead of Apple TV. Today, I eagerly unwrapped the Amazon box and removed all the components.

The Amazon Fire TV box looked sleek and well-made. The remote also looked nicely contoured. I decided to insert the batteries into the remote. But how the heck does one open the battery compartment? I tried force, using a small screwdriver, with no effect.

I decided to call Amazon and ask. After waiting 8 minutes, someone called me but could not suggest any solution. He hung up after looking for more solutions. I tried Amazon again, and a lovely lady answered. However, she also could not suggest anything new to try. She did mention that other people were having the same problem.

I searched on Google for videos of other people opening the compartment but could not find any that showed this specific remote, which has a peculiar backside. Sometimes, being the first to receive a new gadget is like being a beta tester and can be pretty frustrating.

I returned the unit to Amazon and waited for either Roku 4 or Apple TV. I hope Amazon fixes the remote's battery compartment. I am surprised that no one at Amazon tested this.

Many people are hurt trying to open this battery compartment door.

Later, I checked Amazon's reviews and saw many similar problems with the battery door. In addition, other people had issues with Dolby Digital 5.1 support and random crashes. Amazon rushed the product out the door without adequate testing.

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Grandpa's Struggle with Lung Cancer

Dad, or as I affectionately like to call him - Grandpa Neal - first learned of his lung cancer in October 2014, when he was only 72 years old. He had a cough that would not go away, so he went to see his Kaiser Permanente doctor. After doing a chest X-ray, he discovered that he had a tumor in one of his lungs. He was shocked to hear this, as he had only smoked for one year in his early youth and was in excellent shape (having run multiple marathons and half marathons). He was overall in perfect health, and this diagnosis came as a severe shock.

He still wanted to continue dancing to Zumba and playing his accordion. Cancer treatment would slow him down too much.


 

We had multiple discussions with Grandpa about his medical treatment. Inna and I felt that he should undergo surgery immediately to remove the tumor before it had a chance to spread to other organs. However, this would involve some risk and would necessitate a long recovery. Removing the tumorous piece of his lung would reduce his lung capacity and would require significant rehabilitation. Despite many attempts to try to convince him, Grandpa refused to undergo surgery (as he had never had surgery in his life).

In November 2015, Grandpa tried to explore other possible lung cancer treatments, including positron radiation on his tumorous lung. However, when an MRI was done, it showed that the tumor was touching nearby arteries, and the doctor felt that there was too much risk in doing radiation.

In late December of 2015, Grandpa started to cough up blood and finally decided, after many conversations with us, to undergo surgery on his tumorous lung. However, after doing an MRI and an X-ray, it was found that the cancer had spread to other organs, and the surgeon refused to operate. Once cancer spreads to other organs, removing it from just one organ is no longer sufficient. Since all Kaiser's doctors offered was standard chemotherapy, we decided to look for more promising therapies.

In reading the Wall Street Journal, I learned that a new drug called nivolumab was found to work on cancer patients with melanoma and lung cancer. It was approved for melanoma but was still experimental for lung cancer. It worked on cancer patients with a specific genetic defect, and I wanted Grandpa to try this new wonder drug. After reviewing ongoing drug trials, we found a nivolumab trial at Stanford University Hospital.

Enrolling in Stanford's drug trials was an enormous hassle. We first had to get approval from Kaiser Permanente (Grandpa's current medical provider) so that Stanford would manage all of Grandpa's cancer treatment and would bill Medicare directly. At first, Kaiser refused to grant Grandpa this ability, and Stanford would not allow Grandpa into the drug trial without Kaiser's permission. Finally, after writing multiple letters to Kaiser, Grandpa was allowed to enroll in Stanford's drug trial.

Stanford's facilities were much superior to Kaiser's. Stanford's doctors did not trust any of Kaiser's tests, so Grandpa had to do all of the blood tests, X-rays, and MRIs before initiating the nivolumab drug trial. We met with Dr. Heather Wakelee - Stanford's oncologist - and her many assistants and discussed the trial. It would be a blind test trial - we would not know whether Grandpa would get selected to take nivolumab or one of the other chemotherapy drugs.

After some waiting, we were delighted to hear that Grandpa was chosen to get nivolumab every two weeks. The trials started sometime in March 2016, and I was surprised to learn that Grandpa did not experience any side effects. It was very positive news, given all we have read about possible side effects.

After a month of nivolumab shots, Grandpa had to do a series of blood tests and X-rays to determine how the cancer was reacting to being treated with nivolumab. We learned that Grandpa's lung cancer was not growing - but it was not shrinking either. However, there was a concern that he had a small cancer growth in his liver.

After a couple of months of treatment with nivolumab, Grandpa started to complain about pains in his legs. He thought it was some muscle cramps, but we eventually discovered that there was a tumor in his bones. For some reason, the Stanford doctors failed to notice the cancer growth in his leg, even though it was clearly visible in the X-rays (such incompetence!).  Grandpa was extremely angry at Stanford's physicians - how could they miss such an obvious problem, especially since he was complaining about his leg pains to them often?

Grandpa went back to Kaiser, and the doctor there suggested that he get radiation therapy to kill the cancer in his leg. Doing so required stopping all "nivolumab" treatment. By then, he decided to stop nivolumab altogether because he thought that it did not work. I believe that this was a colossal mistake because nivolumab did help to keep the lung tumor in check.

After completing radiation therapy on his leg, Grandpa discovered that he also had pain in his ribs. Another cancer was found and again treated with radiation therapy. However, this second treatment really weakened Grandpa. He lost a lot of energy and vitality and no longer had the energy he used to have to dance to Zumba or play his accordion.

His health started to decline rapidly after this second treatment of radiation. We had to take him to an emergency room because he passed out in his apartment while talking to us about getting additional in-home support services.

We noticed that he started to get confused easily, and all regular activities took much longer for him to do (like making a meal or washing dishes.

On Friday, September 4, Inna planned to take Grandpa to Kaiser for a blood transfusion because Grandpa's iron level was low and the doctors felt he could benefit from additional iron. When she got to his apartment, she found that Grandpa had hurt himself (falling) and he could no longer walk. She called 911, and the emergency team brought him to Kaiser's emergency room. Since Grandpa's left arm and leg (and face) seemed paralyzed, the physicians thought that he had experienced a stroke. We later learned that it was not a stroke - but cancer - that had spread into the left lobe of his brain, which was disabling his activities.

Since Grandpa was so weak, he could not receive chemotherapy. Grandpa's Kaiser doctor, Dr. Myron Kwong, said that his best option was to go to a nursing home, where he could get 24-hour care. We found a bed in the Mission Skilled Nursing facility, and he was transported there.

Grandpa was initially a bit confused about how he got there, and he hated that he could no longer move his left arm. His vision rapidly declined  (because of cancer), and he could no longer see very well. He still liked listening to music and could see us when we were close. His mind was still fine and active, and he made many calls to his friends and relatives.

The food at Mission Skilled Nursing is very processed (for toothless patients) and looks and tastes horrible. Grandpa refused to eat it, so we brought him fresh Borscht and other Russian delicacies from home. He really enjoyed eating them instead of the atrocious food provided.

I got the dreaded call at 5:30am on Wednesday, September 30, and rushed to Mission Skilled Nursing. Grandpa died at 5:38am on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Unfortunately, I did not make it in time to see him. I was told by the nurse there that his breathing slowed down and then stopped.

It was a sorrowful moment for me.

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September of Changes

Wow, this has been a month of many changes. In short, I sold my lovely 2009 Mini Cooper "S" convertible, affectionately named "Chili," my trusty Canon 5D Mark III camera, my MSI GTX 970 graphics card, and my GoPro Hero 3 Black action cam.

After a few weeks of trying to sell my 2009 Mini Cooper "S" on Craigslist, I tried the Cars.com website.

Previously, I tried selling my Mini Cooper "S" convertible on eBay, but never had any luck. Craigslist was even worse, as none of the potential buyers seemed serious. Since my Mini had a 6-speed manual gearbox, I had to be sure with all callers that they could actually drive a manual transmission.

Many Americans no longer know or want to drive a manual-gear car. I enjoy shifting a manual transmission and originally bought this Mini for this very purpose. Potential buyers on Craigslist were all offering low bids in the hope that I was in a hurry. Craigslist is not a good place to sell cars (though I previously sold my Lexus RX300 and two motorcycles on Craigslist with no problems). Eventually, I did find two serious buyers - all on cars.com! The first potential buyer was serious until the last minute when his wife decided she would rather have a Porsche convertible. The second buyer liked the car and purchased it the same day. I hope he enjoys the car as much as I did.

I plan to replace the car with a nice dual-sport bike to take to dirt trails, especially in nearby Metcalf or Hollister. As much as I like cars, I like motorcycles much more. I will be taking the two-day "Intro to Dirt" class from Brian Garrahan in Hollister. Before purchasing one, I plan to learn how to handle a dirt bike on actual dirt trails. I am considering the Yamaha WR250R, a 4-stroke dirt bike that is light enough to ride on the street and on serious dirt roads. To tow the motorcycle on my Toyota Sienna minivan, I suggest adding a trailer hitch to attach a bike carrier.

Regarding photography, I sold my Canon 5D Mark III camera on eBay and replaced it with a Canon 5DS that my Dad purchased for my birthday from an outfit called BuyItDigital (eBay). I expected to get an imported Canon 5DS body (imported from Europe and without a U.S. warranty). Because of the exchange rate, camera bodies purchased in Europe can be cheaper than in the U.S. After placing an order, I got a call from Albert, who offered to upgrade me to a U.S. version for an extra $227. I agreed and patiently waited for the order. A week later, I received the Canon 5DS, but it was the European model as it came with a European charger without a U.S. warranty card. I am still resolving issues with BuyItDigital. The Canon 5DS works fine but is slower than the 5D Mark III due to the large 50-megapixel files coming from its 50-megapixel sensor. I am looking forward to shooting with this new camera.

I replaced an old, trusty Bogen Manfrotto Digi 725B tripod with a MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon fiber tripod. This is a much sturdier, lighter tripod with a lovely ball head for shooting nature and still photos. I look forward to using it in the field. It comes with an excellent carry-on bag and packs very compactly.

My CanoScan Lide 210 scanner died suddenly, and I needed to replace it with a newer version. I looked at many alternatives but eventually chose a CanoScan Lide 220 - a more recent version of the same scanner. It was inexpensive and well-rated. I had a good experience with Lide210, so I thought I would give Canon another chance.

The GoPro Hero4 Silver is smaller than my Hero3 "Black" and has an LCD on the back. This is very helpful in reviewing past footage. However, I am still concerned that battery life is terrible, though batteries are easy to replace.

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Enjoying Manresa State Beach

It's been a while since I visited Manresa State Beach - one of my favorite beaches near Santa Cruz. Unlike most beaches, it's relatively close (within a 60-minute drive) and has beautiful white sand.

I hoped for a beautiful family beach day, and the weather did not disappoint. Although cloudy initially, the weather cleared up, and the warm summer sun emerged.

We tested the cold Pacific Ocean water and watched the many surfers trying to ride the waves. The waves ranged from 3-4 feet, but the surfers were having an enjoyable time.

I played badminton with Alex and threw the football around while Inna relaxed in the warm sunshine.

Later, we decided to go for a long stroll along the beach, and it was a wonderful walk.

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Review: Phantom of the Opera (Orpheum Theater)

Having seen Phantom of the Opera multiple times before (the first time in Houston in 1993), I was not initially excited about seeing it again at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco.

However, this new Phantom of the Opera production impressed me, and I was thrilled to see it. It was staged differently from the Phantom productions I've seen in Houston and Las Vegas.

Phantom of the Opera is based on the novel "Le Fantome de l'Opera" by Gaston Leroux. The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Lyrics composed by Charles Hart. Andrew Lloyd Weber initially intended the role of Christine Daae for his wife, Sarah Brightman.

Sarah's version of Phantom is superlative, but she no longer participates in Broadway musicals. She tours on her own and sings along to a repertoire of songs, some of which include favorites from Phantom of the Opera.

For this production of Phantom, Christine Daae's role was sung by Katie Travis. Katie did a respectable job of singing "Angel of Music," but her vocalizations were not as legato as Sarah's. Overall, she did an excellent job as Christine.

The role of the Phantom of the Opera was sung by Chris Mann. His voice sounded a bit strained. I wish someone with a better voice, like Michael Crawford, sang his part.

Overall, I liked the newer production of Phantom, including the many special effects, i.e., the dropping chandelier, the pyrotechnics (very hot in the front row), the flowing mist, and the self-collapsing structures on stage.

Phantom's Plot, as written in Wikipedia, is as follows, but it was slightly modified in this performance:

Opera singer Christine triumphs at the gala on the night of the old managers' retirement. Her old childhood friend, Raoul, hears her sing and recalls his love for Christine. At this time, there are rumors of a phantom living at the Opera and he makes himself known to the managers through letters and malevolent acts. Some time after the gala, the Paris Opera performs Faust, with the prima donna Carlotta playing the lead, against the Phantom's wishes. During the performance, Carlotta loses her voice and the grand chandelier plummets into the audience. 

Christine is kidnapped by the phantom and is taken to his home in the cellars of the Opera where he reveals his true identity to her simply as Erik, though not his real name. He plans to keep her there for a few days, hoping she will come to love him. But she causes Erik to change his plans when she unmasks him and, to the horror of both, beholds his noseless, lipless, sunken-eyed face which resembles a skull dried up by the centuries, covered in yellowed dead flesh. Fearing that she will leave him, he decides to keep her with him forever, but when Christine requests release after two weeks, he agrees on condition that she wear his ring and be faithful to him. 

On the roof of the opera house, Christine tells Raoul that Erik abducted her. Raoul promises to take Christine away to a place where Erik can never find her. Raoul tells Christine he shall act on his promise the next day, to which Christine agrees. She, however, has pity for Erik and will not go until she has sung a song for him one last time. Neither is aware that Erik has been listening to their conversation and that he has become extremely jealous. 

The following night, Erik kidnaps Christine during a production of Faust and tries to force Christine to marry him. He states that if she refuses, he will use explosives (which he has planted in the cellars) to destroy the entire opera house. Christine refuses, until she realizes that Erik learned of Raoul's attempt to rescue her and has trapped Raoul in a hot torture chamber (along with the Persian, an old acquaintance of Erik who was going to help Raoul). To save them and the people above, Christine agrees to marry Erik. Erik initially tries to drown Raoul, using the water which would have been used to douse the explosives. But Christine begs and offers to be his "living bride", promising him not to kill herself after becoming his bride, as she had both contemplated and attempted earlier in the novel. Erik eventually rescues Raoul from his torture chamber. When Erik is alone with Christine, he lifts his mask to kiss her on her forehead, and is given a kiss back. Erik reveals that he has never received a kiss (not even from his own mother) nor has been allowed to give one and is overcome with emotion. 

Erik allows them to escape, though not before making Christine promise that she will visit him once on his death day, and return the gold ring he gave her. He also makes her promise that afterwards she will go to the newspaper and report his death. Indeed, some time later Christine returns to Erik's lair, buries him and returns the gold ring. Afterwards, a local newspaper runs the simple note: "Erik is dead".

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