A Day in San Pedro - Saturday 12th May 2012

We took some family to San Pedro today as they were going on a cruise, so we decided to spend some extra time in the port. We found a nice fish restaurant overlooking the port and as you can see had a great view of one of the container ships coming in from China. These things are HUGE !!. Each container is 40ft, so you can see they pack em in! San Pedro/ Long Beach is one of the main ports in the USA for imports

Jen by the harbor

The Fish restaurants by the harbor are popular with the Hispanic population over here. See video clip below for a little music :)

May Travel for Tony

Las Vegas Strip - MGM Grand

New York, New York

Salt Lake City Mountains

Tony has been doing some traveling the last couple of weeks. An overnight trip in Las Vegas, Nevada, and last week a 3 day trip to Utah. He flew from Long Beach to Salt Lake City, and spent the time visiting accounts in the Salt Lake City/ Orem area.

A trip up the Central Coast - Monday 16th - Wednesday 18th April 2012

As well as working as National Sales Manager, Tony also has his own territory managing Southern California & Las Vegas Nevada. This means he gets to travel up the Central Coast once every couple of months. It's a beautiful drive once you get out of Los Angeles and reach Ventura. This week he went on a manic three day schedule from Home to Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Templeton, Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay & then across to the central valley to Bakersfield. Then on to Lancaster in the desert before meeting up with Jen for the night in Anaheim Hills.

On Monday night he stayed in Grover Beach & went to a restaurant called AJ Spurs for dinner. Americans like big portions but this is ridiculous!! You start off with the complimentary Chili Soup followed by a full size salad, before your entree comes out. That comes with a skillet of fried potatoes & garlic bread. Then for desert some ice cream. Seriously - You could feed a family of four with one portion. It's good but no way one person can eat all that. Still he gave it his best shot and washed it down with a beer.

A well deserved Shock Top - It was a full glass btw

Aaaaahhhhhhh !!!

Happy Birthday Scott - Thursday 12th April 2012

Today was Scott's Birthday. 41 years old. He has about 8 months on Tony. Thought we would post a picture of Scott that was taken at the NAMM Music show back in January. 

Scott is a very happy man at this particular moment !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO !!!

Happy Easter! - Sunday 8th April 2012

We had a very quiet Easter week-end. Jen's folks headed off to Arizona to see Ken's brother. Jen & I stayed behind due to our schedule's being too busy with Tony getting back late on Thursday night & Jen having to study hard for her Nursing tests she has every Monday. Jen's brother Scott came over for the afternoon so it was just the three of us. A nice meal and some good wine! - Perfect.

Tony's off to Nashville - Monday 2nd - Thursday 5th April 2012

Tony needed to make a last minute trip to Nashville this week. His headquarters are based just outside of Nashville in La Vergne. A few changes going on at work, so he needed to meet Senior Management from Belgium. Basically more responsibility & more work coming his way!!. He made the drive from home to LAX (Los Angeles) early Monday morning, and got a direct flight arriving early evening. A nice dinner out on Monday evening followed by a full day of meetings on Tuesday, rep training on Wednesday and more meetings on Thursday. Flight back Thursday night arriving back just before midnight.
Thankfully with Easter being this week-end he got 3 days off :)

Home to LAX to Nashville, TN

Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula - Sunday 1st April 2012

We live about 20 minutes north of  Temecula which is the major wine region in Southern California.
There are over 30 wineries to visit, and today we met at Oak Mountain winery with some friends for an afternoon of good wine, good music & good company. After the winery we went back to Gary & Jacqui's house for the evening which ultimately ended up in some more grub, wine and a game of pool. Pictures below:

Gary Montana

Jacqui Montana & Jen

Chloe Montana

Scott Montana

Margaret Rhydderch

Jen & Gail Jenkin

Gerry Ryhdderch

Gary Montana & Jen

The Vineyards of Oak Mountain Winery - Temecula

Gail & Michael Jenkin

Tony & Jen

A Game of Pool

St. Patrick's Day - Saturday 17th March 2012

Apologies for not posting for a few months. Just got out of the habit & now will do our best to get back "in the groove" :)
17th March was St. Patrick's Day and being on a Saturday this year we got together with our Brit friends for a good drinking session. Although non of us were Irish we did our best to look the part. Pictures below:

Kate Hancock

Richard Deniz

Ed & Fay Hasnip

Dawn Deniz

Gerry Rhydderch & Jen

Margaret Rhydderch & Jen

Tony & Jen

We were also extremely impressed with Jacqui Montana's version of the Riverdance. Believe it or not she was completely sober doing this!!

 

Cameron's a teenager !! - November 30th 2011

Our nephew Cameron (Tony's brother Mark's youngest), turned 13 today. Happy Birthday Cameron.
Also a belated birthday to his older brother Robert (16). We missed a blog post for October 20th. Sorry mate. Just your Uncle Tony being his normal organized self....not.

Cameron playing his STAGG Guitar. (Fantastic guitar BTW)

Happy Birthday Jen !! - November 26th 2011

Pictured with brother Scott

Jen's Birthday today. Unfortunately she was working all day and studying the rest of the week-end so we didn't get a chance to go out and celebrate. After school finishes in 3 weeks we'll make up for lost time!!

Xmas Lights - November 25th 2011

Our House

With Jen working for a couple of days, Tony took the opportunity to put up the outside lights. Not bad & the first on the street to do so. Obviously set the standard for the neighbours to follow.

Thanksgiving - November 24th 2011

Thanksgiving is a huge holiday in America, and always take place on the 4th Thursday of November. We went over to Jen's Mom & Dad's in Anaheim Hills, and were joined by Ken's brother (& family), Jen's girlfriend Myle (& crew) & Jen's brother Scott.

From left (Clockwise) - Kevin Bue, Myle Phan, Jen, Dave Pruzinsky, Ken, Pat Pruzinsky, 

Jim Pruzinsky, Scott, Mary Ellen

Sorry for the picture quality (taken on a cell phone). We'll post some more pics once we get a chance to download onto the computer

Always nice to have a great meal, good wine & a four day week-end .

Brit Meet Up/ Karaoke - November 18th 2011

Tonight was the monthly Brit Meet Up with our British Ex Pat friends in Temecula. Tony went solo as it was on a Friday night, and Jen wasn't back from Orange County yet. Still - It didn't stop him having a good time and the hosts (Paul & Sharon Little) had a Karaoke machine.

The pics below were taken by our resident pro photographer Patrick.

"You've lost that loving feeling" sung by:

Patrick Shelton & Tony, with Dawn Deniz looking on

Tony pictured with the ladies - Geraldine Shelton & Margaret Rhydderich

Tony gets his Permanent Residency - November 14th 2011

Tony today received his Permanent Residency in the USA. This is the Official Green Card which replaces the conditional (2 year) Green Card. This means he is now good for another 10 years. Yeaahhhh!

A well deserved night out at Don Jose's - November 11th 2011

Jen enjoying her Strawberry Margarita

With nursing school consuming Jen's entire life right now we decided to have a rare night out at a local Mexican restaurant (Don Jose's) in Lake Elsinore. Nice to end the work week with a couple of margarita's !!

Tony Graham Signature Snare Drum - November 9th 2011

One of Tony's dealers (with a good sense of humour) decided to name one of the drums Tony's company sells after him. (The Tony Grahm  - he cant spell... "UK Stealth" Signature Snare) 

Pity he only thinks its worth $69.95 - He even faked a signature....They already sold one.

Still waiting for a royalty payment.

Breakfast at Annie's Cafe - October 30th 2011

Annie's Cafe is THE place to go for breakfast in Lake Elsinore. It is actually run by Brits (Jan & Kevin) and aside from serving great food, they entertain you while you eat with periodic dances, singing & silly hats if it is your first visit! - Jan's personality makes it, and the locals love her. Today the staff were all dressed up for Halloween. Sorry no pics :(
We met friends of ours Fay & Ed at 8.30am. If you are there after 9.00am on the week-end there is a line out the door - very popular. Below is a clip we found on You Tube which gives you the idea. The owner is in black and doing the high kicks!

Pictures from Tony's Travels - October 26th & 27th 2011

This week Tony was traveling his normal territory in Southern California but stopped to take a couple of pictures on his way. On Wednesday he was way out in the desert in El Centro & Calexico. Heading back towards Palm Desert he drove alongside the coast of the Salton Sea.

The Salton Sea from Highway 111

From Calexico to Palm Desert

On Thursday he was in South Orange County and took Ortega Highway (74) back through the mountains to Lake Elsinore. It is a nice drive during the daytime and you get a great view of Lake Elsinore on the way down.

Lake Elsinore from Ortega Highway

San Clemente to Home via Ortega Highway

Ollie & Psych getting friendly - 24th October 2011

For you cat lovers out there you will appreciate this. As you can see Ollie has recovered well from his recent surgery and is best buds once again with everyone. Enjoy !!

Jen finishes top of the class - 14th October 2011

Jen finished the first half of her first semester today and Tony is proud to announce that she finished top of the class (about 50 students) with an A (94%).
On Monday she starts Medical Surgery for the next 9 weeks which will take her up to mid December.
With less homework to do this week-end we actually took a day out and went to Palm Springs for some R&R.