Tag Archives: Adventures

Adventures, new worlds, new sights, new lands

Penny and The Attack of The Killer Bees

Kernut the Blond Posted on by
The Rispin Mansion, Capitola CA.

The Rispin Mansion, Capitola, CA. Front entry way.

The Time Penny Was Attacked by The Killer Bees

When I was a delinquent young teenager in Capitola, I had some friends with whom I regularly got into trouble had adventures. (See: My First Brush With The Law). One of the places we would regularly go to find trouble was the colloquially named ‘monastery’, formally know as The Rispin Mansion.

(Side note: If you view the more recent photos, note we did NOT spray paint the place, or destroy the statues, and were quick to lecture those who did. We loved that place. I would like to see it restored but it’s going to be torn down and turned into a Bed & Breakfast or something.)

The monestary/Rispin Mansion was once a beautiful mansion built in 1922 by a wealthy man, reported to have transported liquor during the Prohibition.

It seemed only fitting we should go there to drink illegally.

The place once had beautiful parquet floors and statues. It still had secret hidden rooms, and a sliding bookcase. People, I couldn’t make this shit up – I’m not that imaginative. IT WAS AWESOME!

The place was abandoned around 1958, and it’s considered trespassing to be on the grounds.

Yet another good reason for us to go there. Regularly. But, wait! There’s more…

The Time I Learned Golf Carts Don’t Float

Kernut the Blond Posted on by

The Four Seasons Golf Resort – probably not the one we were at.

Golf Carts Don’t Float, But Golf Tees Do – Who Knew?!

For a little while after my parents got divorced my father stayed in the general Santa Barbara, CA area. My sister, Chickenbone, and I would spend weekends and long summers with him where we would learn all kinds of grown-up things (much against my mother’s wishes) like playing poker, driving before we were even in our teens, and eating junk food all day long.

My father raised us very differently than my mother: My mother was a fairly strict and conservative parent who raised us on health food, while my father pretty much let us do absolutely anything we wanted. (See My First Brush With The Law for an example.)

And he would often help us cover up the crime.

We were too young to be left alone, not because we couldn’t take care of ourselves, but more likely we’d have burnt down the house.  But my father liked playing golf, so he had to bring us along.

Just imagine two independent, but restrained-9-months-out-of-the year-then-suddenly-unleashed kids running amok on the golf course. But, wait! There’s more…

Billy Joel & Elton John ROCKED the House!

Kernut the Blond Posted on by

The concert ROCKED!! (no pun intended), the roof shook, and the music vibrated through my body. Chickenbone and I had a fantastic time.

Elton and Billy

But I‘ve lost my hearing. If you find it, let me know.

I apologize for the poor quality of the photos; you’ll have to take my word the boys are in the pictures. A cell phone can only do so much. I should have brought in my digital camera like the guy in front of me. He was getting some great footage right up until he got busted.

Elton John looked fabulous in a black tux with tails and red vest, and Billy Joel looked sharp in a nice black tux.

Elton had the best lighting – it was mesmerizing! Every so often he would look out into the crowd as if he wanted to see something. As soon as his eyes focused on the people in the audience a huge smile would cross his face. He loved seeing us.

Billy was quite funny, chatting and joking with the audience. He joked about his age – but the man is hotter than ever, in my humble opinion. There’s nothing sexier than a man who’s secure enough to laugh at himself. And a most gracious performer, he sincerely thanked us all for being there.

Elton and Billy. (Our seats weren't nearly as cheap as this pic would have them look.)

They had a huge band! At one point, in addition to the two piano men on stage, there were two keyboardists, two guys on horns, two guys doing other stuff (back up singers, playing small instruments), four guitarists, and four drummers!

They ended with a duet of Piano Man. One word: AWESOME!

(I’m using more exclamation points than usual because I CAN’T HEAR and think they might help.)

Oh, and to the wasted chick singing and dancing like a drunken zombie when everyone was seated: No more coke for you.