San Diego Home-Page TWO

The combination “Living Room/Dining Room” is not an area we use except for when we have company. But, the vaulted ceiling over this entire area contributes to giving the entire house an open, spacious impression or feeling as one enters through the front door.

Ironically, we normally prepare our meals and eat at the kitchen counter rather than use the formal dining table.

Lena likes to wear her “Gourmet Cook’s” outfit while charcoaling steaks on the BBQ. Until she came to the US, Lena had never actually had a “steak.” But, she has tried to made up “for lost time” since her arrival!

Steve has converted the bedroom on the first floor to his “I LOVE ME” room where he displays all his Navy plaques and other Navy memorabilia representing that period of his life when he used to work for a living (or so he CLAIMS)!

He does, however, occasionally share this area with “Kesha” the Ragdoll cat (when the cat is in the mood for companionship).

Looking back to those “DOS” days before the comcept of WINDOZ came into vogue, Steve saw the MAC operating system as being “HIS SOLUTION” to his inability (or UNWILLINGNESS) to comprehend DOS.

We decided to do a “family photo” with Kesha (our Ragdoll Cat) to send out for Christmas 2000.

After Steve had done his “Let’s lock ourselves in the closet trick,” his “Plumber Buddy,” John Zech, came by to help us install the new closet door...which does NOT have any door lock!

Not only did Lena seem to like the bouquet of flowers, Steve was impressed with the quality of the digital images he was able to get with the new Nikon!

Our Home in the SUN!

Lena simply *LOVES* her 2002 Acura RSX!

On 11/22/02 Steve required major surgery to remove a piece of ruptured vertebrae in his lower back. After this surgery—even though people had told Steve all his life that he was FULL OF CRAP—the surgeon assured Steve that it was simply NOT TRUE! <grin>

On 1 August 2003, Lena and Steve celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Steve—after almost forgetting about the date—decided to get Lena a nice bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion.

And, Dave Seyller, who had been witness to our wedding, also sent Lena a beautiful floral arrangement as well.

		The fireplace has added a touch of warmth for some of the fairly cold (by CALIFORNIA standards!) weather we have experienced this last winter.		The combination “Living Room/Dining Room” is not an area we use except for when we have company. But, the vaulted ceiling over this entire area contributes to giving the entire house an open, spacious impression or feeling as one enters through the front door.
		Lena does enjoy using these couches for reading...or taking a nap when Steve has grabbed the couch in the Family Room area!		Ironically, we normally prepare our meals and eat at the kitchen counter rather than use the formal dining table.
		While Lena is an excellent cook, it did not take her long to adapt to Steve’s lack of interest in gourmet dining and to resign herself to his preference for eating microwaved frozed meals. For herself, however, Lena prefers fish, soup, fruits, and STEAK!		Lena likes to wear her “Gourmet Cook’s” outfit while charcoaling steaks on the BBQ. Until she came to the US, Lena had never actually had a “steak.” But, she has tried to made up “for lost time” since her arrival!
		We’ve found it hard to improve upon the flavor and tenderness of some of the steaks we pick up at COSTCO and BBQ on our patio. The quality (and price!) certainly beats anything we have found in most restaurants.		Steve has converted the bedroom on the first floor to his “I LOVE ME” room where he displays all his Navy plaques and other Navy memorabilia representing that period of his life when he used to work for a living (or so he CLAIMS)!
		He does, however, occasionally share this area with “Kesha” the Ragdoll cat (when the cat is in the mood for companionship).		It is also where he has set up his computer system and where he now spends most of his time now that he has retired!
		For someone who AVOIDED having a PC during most of his Navy career, Steve took to using a MACINTOSH at his home during his last duty station like a duck takes to water .		Looking back to those “DOS” days before the comcept of WINDOZ came into vogue, Steve saw the MAC operating system as being “HIS SOLUTION” to his inability (or UNWILLINGNESS) to comprehend DOS.
		We decided to do a “family photo” with Kesha (our Ragdoll Cat) to send out for Christmas 2000.
		After Steve had done his “Let’s lock ourselves in the closet trick,” his “Plumber Buddy,” John Zech, came by to help us install the new closet door...which does NOT have any door lock!		It’s SPRING TIME and Lena is showing us her “Green Thumb!”
		We decided to change and freshen up the appearance of our front porch area by getting some new planters and flowers to replace the former plants which had pretty well died out and were not providing any ‘color’ to this area.		Jon Dunn, a long-term Navy friend of Steve (who dates back to Steve’s first tour aboard the USS Diachenko LPR-123 in 1968) stopped by for a quick visit in May, 2001.
		Jon decided that being a “Ship Driver” for 20 years was not his life-time ambition and transferred into the Reserves after his initial tour and opened his own business. He also decided to live with his wife, Susan, in the middle of a snow drift in Littleton, Massachusetts.		Steve had traveled all over the world without checking ANY luggage (using only a carry-on shoulder bag and a hanging bag for his uniforms). For our trip to Russia, we MAXED out with four 70 LB bags to check plus two 40 LB carry-on bags. And, Kesha did NOT fit!
		For our "Christmas Card 2001" we decided to get a little more elaborate and we put together this "Happy Holidays from Moscow's Red Square" image.		Shortly after Lena returned from Anya’s graduation, we had our 2nd wedding anniversary on 1 August 2002 and Steve gave Lena these flowers. Since he had just gotten his new Nikon Coolpix 5700 digital camera, this was a great time to try out his new toy!
		Not only did Lena seem to like the bouquet of flowers, Steve was impressed with the quality of the digital images he was able to get with the new Nikon!		Our Home in the SUN!
		*Lena simply LOVES* her 2002 Acura RSX!**		On 11/22/02 Steve required major surgery to remove a piece of ruptured vertebrae in his lower back. After this surgery—even though people had told Steve all his life that he was FULL OF CRAP—the surgeon assured Steve that it was simply NOT TRUE! <grin>
		On 1 August 2003, Lena and Steve celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Steve—after almost forgetting about the date—decided to get Lena a nice bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion.		And, Dave Seyller, who had been witness to our wedding, also sent Lena a beautiful floral arrangement as well.