Early Thanksgiving Dinner from Grey Bears

We received our early Thanksgiving dinner from Grey Bears on November 8, 2025.

Last Saturday, Paul and I rushed through our breakfast, and set off to Grey Bears' headquarters to pick our holiday dinner. Seeing a long line of cars ahead of us, we knew that we were definitely not the first in line. Guided by sets of volunteers in visible vests, our Tesla crawled forward, turned around the dead end to drive past the Bears Electronic Recycling Center. Such a busy traffic scene was a sharp contrast to the quiet Saturday morning exactly a week before. 

We finally inched our way into the Bears yard. To make more room in a tight yard space, all vehicles were ordered to make four or five lanes, so as to be called upon to receive our dinners at the kitchen gate. Like many years before, everything was well organized with proper signs and cheerful volunteers tasked with specific duties. Unlike the past tradition, one could order online up to six dinners without having to specify the name for each receiver. One name was ample. The new system seemed to be more streamlined. Once one's name was checked by one volunteer, a colorful shopping bag or more would be waiting at the gate, depending on the quantity of dinners. 

Colorful bags turned out to be donations from Santa Cruz New Leaf Community Markets. It is another streamlined item for Grey Bears this year. Instead of clumsy handlings when several dinners were involved, roomy New Leaf bags can hold two or three dinners easily.

By the time we left the yard, we saw the line of waiting cars not only not diminishing, but growing to the corner of Chanticleer and Soquel Avenues. Curiously, no one seemed to be in an anxious hurry, but hopeful. Perhaps, they shared the same feeling as we did: we were indeed fortunate to live in such a supportive and generous community. Politics could swing left or right, but our local community was something we could always rely upon. Grey Bear's early Thanksgiving Dinner is one living example. 

Crossing Whale Bridge on Veterans Day

It has been my wish for some time to cross the Whale Bridge erected in July 2025. It is a bicycle and pedestrian crossing over Highway 1 to connect the Chanticleer Avenue that is cutoff by the highway. Since the day it was conceived, the bridge has been attracting negative speculation and complaints about too few users, due to its long curved span, rather than a conventional straight shot over-crossing. 

Much Ridiculed Cracked Mandilion  

Shortly after 2:00 pm on this Veterans Day, Paul and I decided to embark on our humble adventure, in order to see for ourselves if the controversy was worthwhile. After half a mile from our home, we arrived at the foot of the bridge. Indeed, the much criticized whale medallion at the entrance was cracked in a few places. As the cracks were the same color as the rest of the design, they somehow blended in nicely and even gave some weather-beaten characteristics. 

Highway 1 South Traffic on Veterans Day

Once on the bridge, we noticed a sharp contrast between the serenity around us and tremendous traffic on Highway 1 South. There were about five pedestrians and cyclists on our way over. In about a quarter of a mile, we reached the other end of the bridge, finding ourselves looking at the buildings of Grey Bears and its Electronic Recycling Center on our right, and Santa Cruz SPCA on our left, which solved the mystery of dog walkers on the bridge. Since we were on the campus of Grey Bears, we might as well do some shopping at its Thrift Store, where we spent $2.19 to replace our worn out lemon squeezer and an aqua blue basket. 

SPCA Dog Walker

On our way back, we saw much busier foot traffic. There were about 15 people, walking by themselves or with dogs, and some riding standard or electric bicycles. It is a safe route with high and strong railings sealed on both sides of the crossing. Perhaps to offset their severity, a total of 18 metal whale cutouts were attached, eight on the southbound side, and 10 on the northbound. 

Whale and Paul

The Whale Bridge is quite a feat and improvement to our local area and life, after a construction cost of about $34 million sourced from Measure D sales tax, State Senate Bill 1, and regional funds. Unlike the famed rail-trail debate, the bridge is standing tall and proud! From the bridge we can have a better nearby view, including the water purification facility. 

Water Purification Facility

Happy Birthday, Paul!

The celebration of Paul's birthday this year can be characterized by three words, quiet, but busy and joyous.

Owing to the unusual quietness over the weekend, Paul could not help but feel a little curious. I did a pretty good job by keeping under wraps Nick's coming on Monday, until on the eve of his birthday when Paul asked me if we expected anyone the next day. Once the cat was let out of the bag, I happily took the blame for not keeping my vow. But it was worth it, for Paul was much happier and more expectant since.

Nick did not roll in until after 1:00 pm, due to the unexpected Caltrain's roadwork on Highway 17 South. Before then, Paul attended his noon Midjourney session with Peter and Claire, while I went to the Buttery to pick up the cake. It all worked out nicely.

The rest of the day, we chatted and cooked in the kitchen. In addition, Nick helped Paul to reinstall the Norton Utilities. Before dinner, Paul and Nick went out for a drive, which gave me a little breathing space for completing the cooking and cleaning up. Around 6:00 pm, we started our birthday dinner with our turkey-tofu soup, salad, green beans, baby cucumber, meat spaghetti, and finally pan-fried swordfish. I was pleased that everything turned out just right, although no one actually noticed any difference, except for the cook herself. 

Birthday Card from and by Leni & Paulie

The Buttery's tiramisu cake lived up to its fame. Together with our ice cream, we had a hearty dessert. With phone calls, piles of cards and gifts from friends and families, it was a truly great birthday celebration, which was continued by a FaceTime with Leni and Paulie around 11:00 pm. They were anxious about the feedback of their handmade birthday card. Papou reassured them that it was beautiful and well-loved.

It is a productive and creative year for Paul. In less than one year, he has won three photo contests in Santa Cruz Good Times. Congratulations and Happy Birthday, Paul!

SUNSET DRIVE taken amongst the happy people enjoying the sunset at West Cliff 
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-11-6-24/ (29 October 2025)

FLASH OF GREEN captured Jan. 5 on Seacliff Beach
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-31/ (5 February 2025) 

EGRET BALLET taken from the cliff that runs along Pleasure Point 
Photograph by Paul Titangos
Courtesy of https://www.goodtimes.sc/the-editors-desk-11-6-24/ (5 November 2024)

Lifelong Commitments in Artists

Last Saturday afternoon, Paul was ready to visit his chosen Open Studio (OS) sites. After a break from the house chores, I decided to tour with him.

Our first artist was Donna Thompson on the other side of Highway 1. When we first arrived at her home studio, it was quiet except for a few elderly ladies sitting in a line acting as both sentinels and greeters. Donna, recovering from her recent health issues, was a bit pale but vocal about the slowness of this year's OS, "There was no activity the first hour today." 

Since our walls and visible hanging space are covered with Paul's framed photos, and paintings and drawings by Leni and Paulie, I skipped Donna's painting section, to go straight to her famed garden chicken table. Very quickly we picked out a pair of chickens, one B&W, and one iridescent blue at a price of $95 per hen. When we turned around, we found endless shoppers waiting for their turns. Before we said our goodbyes, loaded with two chickens and two necklaces, Donna was beaming and busy with more visitors, including a lady honcho from the Cultural Council, the governing body of OS.

Garden Art Chicken 

Courtesy of https://www.donnathompsonartist.com/gardenchickenart

Our next destination was David Fleming's home studio in Aptos. Like Donna's studio, it seemed quiet too. But according to Dave and his wife Jeanne, they had a quite busy and brisk start with two big paintings already spoken for. 

Donna and Dave are both emeritus art professors at San Jose State University. Apparently, the challenges from health and age have not slowed them down a bit. Dave is a prolific artist with his paintings stacked everywhere in the house, front and side yards, and garage/storage. While not firm on foot, he and Jeanne are crystal clear mentally, inventorying every piece of art and recalling every single detail about friends of the long past. 

CHICKEN OR EGG?

Courtesy of https://www.davidflemingartist.com/workszoom/6222845/chicken-or-egg#/

Dave paints and creates nonstop, while Donna diversifies her talents to paintings, pastels, paper mache and crafts. Her garden chickens have been bestsellers several years in a row in Santa Cruz. Such lifelong commitments remind me of Norwegian writer Jon Fosse's Septology series. Asle, the main character, also creates his oil paintings for as long as he lives, even though he feels tired in the end. Such dedication is driven perhaps by an artistic mission, or perhaps by an urge to dislodge an image stuck in his head, the same way as writers do with their writings, or as Paul does with his camera work or post-camera work. 

True artists possess and fulfill their lifelong commitments

Behind Beautiful Scenery

Paul and I cannot resist beautiful scenery when selecting our TV or movies to watch, even though they might involve horrific murders or backwater ignorance. Since April, back from our Shanghai trip, we have completed a number of TV series, such as Death in Paradise (Britain), Doc Martin (Britain), My Life Is Murder (New Zealand), Thursday Murder Club (Britain), and Untamed (US).

Courtesy of https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/the-thursday-murder-club-deleted-scene

There is a commonality threading all those shows, stunning natural beauty in direct contrast with human crimes and foibles. Abundant are juxtapositions, e.g., Caribbean aqua blue water, golden beaches and lush forests vs. various killings and thinly-disguised bureaucratic power struggles; a physician's tireless efforts to cure and save local inhabitants in a sleepy fishing village Portwenn, or rather Port Isaac, on the Atlantic coast of north Cornwall; New Zealand's beautiful beaches and cityscape vs. endless murder cases and victims; killings at a retirement community in an idyllic seaside village of Fairhaven in Kent; and Yosemite National Park's magnificence vs. the patricide in Capitan. 

Needless to say, the use of beautiful scenery is not only an usual method for TV shows to retain and attract their loyal and new audience, but also a subtle device to display the cruelty of violence, or futile human enterprises against the background of blue skies and deep seas. This is especially true of Bert Large's series of failed businesses in Doc Martin, or Kyle Turner's outstayed status as a special agent in Yosemite Investigative Service Branch in Untamed.

Courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untamed_%28TV_series%29

There is another underlined reason in adopting beautiful scenery, namely the deep appreciation of nature on the part of main characters. For its natural beauty in Portwenn, Doc Martin would rather give up his prospective deanship at the Imperial College, while PI Lucy Crowe was content to bake bread for Baristas Café, and assist DI Kieran Hussey in solving murder mysteries in Auckland. 

Courtesy of https://parade.com/tv/my-life-is-murder-season-5 

To Paul and me, there is a further reason to love those beautiful scenery that open both our heart and mind. Life in places with picturesque scenery is usually harder and more competitive. It takes a certain personality and resilience to make a living there. In those decades we have been living and working in Santa Cruz, so many people came and went like going through a revolving door. Like any beautiful places, Santa Cruz is not for the faint of heart. 

Our Boys & Girls Clubs Story

We have been with Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of Santa Cruz County four years in a row for Leni and Paulie.

I happened to be aware of its existence through my former colleague Paula C. Years ago, she sent her grandchildren there when they came to stay with her. As far as I remember, she was at once impressed and pleased with its service and potential benefits.

In 2022, Leni came to spend her summer in Santa Cruz. Prior to her arrival, Paul and I inquired about the BGC and started our application process. Little did we know that it was a very competitive one. There are three BGCs in Santa Cruz County, Downtown, Live Oak and Scotts Valley. The most competitive BGC is the Live Oak one, due to its brand-new building and proximity to the Simpkins Family Swim Center.  Its admittance list is always full with a long waiting list to the boot. 

We finally heard from the Downtown and Scotts Valley BGCs. In consideration of my work location, we chose the Downtown one. And it was a wise and happy choice, especially with its nurturing and experienced director Katie Freeman. In the three years there, Leni has transformed from a scarred and quiet girl to a good swimmer, excellent artist and dabbling guitarist. With the frequent visits of Santa Cruz Public Libraries nearby, she has acquired the habit of reading.

Through Leni's attendance, we have also learned our lesson. It seems that spring is the time to register. In as early as March this year, we signed Paulie up, as Leni was planning to stay home with her parents. Just a week before June, we got an unexpected call, saying that a hundred kids from the Downtown BGC would join the Live Oak one for the first two weeks, due to construction on the building. Two weeks later, we fell a victim of convenience, and decided to stay put for Paulie in the location of Live Oak where we reside. 

After a mutual conferring between the Unit Director Silka and Area Director Katie who has deservedly been promoted to the top position, our request was duly approved. It has a bitter-sweet ending. Paulie has grown mentally and physically in this summer, especially his art work and, eloquence of language and reasoning. Owing to his young age and free spirit, he was not used to receiving and obeying explicit instructions. As a result of this compounded by administrative miscommunications, he was prevented from attending several outdoor activities, such as movie-going, local sight-seeing spots, Beach Days and Simpkins Swim Field Trips. Thanks to the sympathetic Papou, Paulie was not wanting from any of those activities. Papou took him to CineLux Capitola for How to Train Your Dragon the same week after the group viewing. He also let Paulie play on beaches and the Simpkins Center. "It is the best days of my life," declared Paulie after the last swim. Hopefully, he will be mature enough next year to avoid those penalties, and truly blossom and succeed in the club.

After our personal experience with Boys and Girls Clubs, Paul and I have been curious about BGCs, its present and part. It seems that it is a nationwide organization founded in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, by three women, Elizabeth Hamersley, and Mary and Alice Goodwin. At present, there are around 5864 BGCs in the United States (BGCA), with 800 local chapters/alliance in the state of California. According to BGCA, about 92% club members expect to graduate from high school, 81% plan to go to post-secondary education, 86% are prepared to stand up for what is right and 88% are ready for a leadership role, and treat people around them fairly. It is quite impressive achievement and bright prospect for our future leaders!

Upright Paulie

Grandson Paulie has been staying with us this summer to attend his Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County. Gradually, we have discovered a number of extraordinary qualities in him. 

For instance, he is an upright seven-year-old boy. Young for his age, he adheres fiercely to his principles. He prefers his breakfast a bowl of traditional Cheerios with milk. He was outraged to the point of tears when I sneaked in some smashed quail egg or chicken egg yolk. After several unpleasant episodes, I have finally given up my feeble attempts to boost his protein intake at breakfast. As a traditional Cheerios consumer, Paulie is not tempted to try other cheerio types, even though he is a big fan of the Bluey series, and loved his new Bluey outfit instantly. The aversion might be associated with his throwing up perhaps from eating Bluey cheerios during the 4th of July vacation week.

Paulie receives his punishment stoically. A month ago on June 11, he wandered off during his first Beach Day. His temporary disappearance ruined the day club activity. His teachers combed the whole Twin Lakes State Beach to look for him. It turned out that he was talking to an unknown couple on the beach, which escaped the due notice of searchers, assuming that he was their family member. As a severe repercussion, Paulie was banned from swimming field-trips activities in the month of June, including Simpkins swims and beach days.

During that period, he was unusually quiet, but with no complaints. He was to miss How to Train Your Dragon at Cinelux Theater Capitola the following Tuesday, due to a mix-up in the sign up period. He refused his club lunch or his own that day. On hearing this, Papou Paul could not sit still. The very next day, he met and talked to the Club Director, to reach a mutual understanding and course of action for Paulie. Additionally, Papou purchased tickets to Simpkins that Saturday and swam with Paulie in the Warm Water Pool. On Sunday, three of us all went to the Cinelux to see the Train your Dragon movie with popcorn in hand. After due delays and testing, Paul has now proved himself to be outdoor-worthy. Today, he is at the Buccaneer Bay Mini Golf, Santa Cruz Boardwalk!

Politeness is another quality Paulie has possessed. His "Excuse me" has endeared himself to friends and strangers alike. He never speaks ill of anyone, but always praises people around him. In slightly over one month, he has been promoted to one of the most popular club members, receiving a chorus of greetings and goodbyes upon arrival and departure.

Seriousness about one's responsibility is Paulie's other notable quality. Once designated as a lime picker, he has picked all scattered fruits cheerfully, no matter how low he has to bow to reach them. He is also a dedicated paperboy to get daily Sentinel papers from the driveway to the kitchen table. He does it willingly, regarding the job more as a spirit lifter, than a chore or nuisance. 

Paul and I are in constant amazement living with Paulie, even though he can be quite demanding in getting two necessities on time, i.e., his dinner, and fruit bowl. Like his sister Leni, Paulie is a serious fruit eater, strawberries in particular.

Celebrating International Children’s Day with Paulie

This Children’s Day was devoted to Paulie who had arrived Thursday night.

After a simple breakfast, Paul, Paulie and I drove to Neary Lagoon. Last Thursday noon, I happened to see a big batch of goats and sheep chewing away tall grass along the wooden ramp, with the other side had already been eaten clean. I learned from one of the shepherds that they had been here since Memorial Day, and planned to stay until the following Monday. It’s the first time Paulie saw goats in large numbers with a great variety of coloration. According to our chat with another shepherd, there were a total of 650 goats who were to clean both the Lagoon and Santa Cruz High School.

Once reaching the ramp, Paulie set off well ahead of us. He could not believe the sight, sound and smell of so many goats allat once. He seemed to be more interested in his new friends than his sister the year before. Leni was a little disconcerted by the human-like eyes of goats. There were some maneuverings on the part of shepherds, for a portion of goats had to go to a new site while the rest would stay in the existing site that was pretty much chewed clean. It turned out that the goat team was a victim of its success. They completed their task too quickly and thoroughly. A girl was so sympathetic to the hungry goats that she climbed over the far ramp to grab bunches of grass, with the encouragement of her father. She was generous to a fault by sharing her goods with Paulie, so he could have the opportunity to feed goats himself.

After the goat population was settled and calmed down, we left for the Downtown Library. As planned, we were going to sign Paulie up for his summer reading program. At the library circulation desk, Paul filled in the library card application for Paulie. In a week, he would be a full-fledged member. Afterwards, we went up to the second floor, Children’s section. Paul selected thee Rabbit & Bear books by Julian Gough and Jim Field, while Paulie picked Sea Turtles in the World Book’s Wild Animal kingdom series. They all proved to be well-liked by the whole family.

Paul drove us to our third destination of the day, I.e., the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. We had our lunch at Riva, our favorite restaurant. While we had our Fish and Chips, and Fishemen’s Platter, Paulie was more keen on coloring his pelican. His choice of tacos was entirely untouched. Paul and I had to save tacos by ignoring our own food. After Riva, we went to visit the sea lions, Paulie’s other new friends. He was duly fascinated with pups and their doting mothers, and aloof fathers on the sunny ramps. 

What a Children’s Day we had! Hope it will make some difference in Paulie’s life.

Busy May

Ever since we came back from Shanghai on April 20, Paul and I have been busy in and outside the house. We tamed wild weeds, planted nine tomato plants, fed roses, and watered the parched front and back yards now and then. This past weekend, we harvested our first batch of oregano. Several times, we shelled our fava beans, and gave away bags of limes. The rain from spring has truly been beneficial to all growths.

In addition to heeding the yards, we fulfilled a series of commitments and obligations. Besides his daily photography, Paul has been regularly attending his AI seminars/salons weekday afternoons and evenings, and joined his Midjourney classes at noon Mondays and Fridays. April 23 was our Spring ‘25 Staff Day. As scheduled, I presented my History through Biography about three California library founders, James L. Gillis, and his two assistants, Laura Steffens Suggett and Harriet G. Eddy. While working four full weeks, I completed my draft employee annual self-appraisal with Paul’s revisions and approval. 

We also finalized Paulie’s Boys and Girls Club application, sent out group and individual photos to my two aunts/cousins, Training Classmates, university classmates, and Screen International colleagues. Then we went to Debora/Robert’s dinner, Lee and Judy’s afternoon tea, and invited Jim and Fran home for the Warrior's last playoff pizza night. 

This morning, we went to Palo Alto for a medical appointment. Once back, we will get ready for Lee Anne and Paulie’s arrival on Thursday night. Friday morning, Lee Anne is going to CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay) for a day conference. She is leaving Saturday morning while Paulie stays for his first Boys and Girls summer program in Santa Cruz. It is uncertain if he can handle the program as well as his sister. But we have full confidence in him who is social and bright enough. 

Reunions in Shanghai

After months' planning and visa applications, Paul and I arrived in Shanghai on April 5, 2025 for my 50th Foreign Language Training Class Reunion. At the Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping, Brother Ying greeted and helped us with our luggage. He had come all the way from Hong Kong to observe the Qingming Festival for our parents. 

A succession of reunions was thus started. During our two-week stay, we visited our grandparents, parents, and uncle in the Changre Cemetery, guided by my cousin and his wife, Huifu and Xiao Yan. Afterwards as usual, we went to my Big Aunt and her husband's. At the high recommendation of Xiao Yan, my aunt treated us at the Jiangna Xiaochu (Southern Yangtze Little Kitchen). We had a light-hearted and delightful dinner, if not for Huifu's heart-wrenching complaints about his two greedy younger brothers.

Paul in the vicinity of Oriental Pearl Tower, Pudong

After reunions with my Little Aunt's family, my university classmates in Pudong Shangri-la, former colleagues, Wang, Fan, and their two guests, Paul and I managed to saunter along two major shopping roads, Nanjing and Huaihai, visited both the South and North Bunds, the Raffle City Mall, Shanghai's Little White House (Museum of Arts and Crafts) at #79 Fenang Road, Shanghai Fashion Center (formerly No. 17 Cotton Mill), Yu Garden, and Jian Temple. 

Our Hotel Suyu

Courtesy of Paul Titangos Photography

The long-waited reunion of April 17-18 finally came upon us. We got up early to get ready for the Continental Breakfast. At 7:30 am, we were due at the Metro Station to board Line 7, and transferred to Line 16 to the Wild Animal Park station. At 9:30, one hour before the scheduled time, we were standing outside Exit 1. After waiting for half an hour without spotting any familiar faces, we decided to call one of the organizers Jemmy who was waiting in an unspecified place for us. It turns out that the bus stop forbad any vehicles from parking in the vicinity. In less than two seconds, my classmate How Beautiful, Professor Feng, appeared and drove us straight to the Reunion destination. Jemmy had to wait for the van to take the rest of the arriving guests.

Mary Wu, me, Zhou Yanqun, Han Yuner, and Yvonne Zhou

Courtesy of Paul Titangos Photography

In the guest hall of the villa, we greeted an endless line of newcomers who I did not see for 10 or 50 years. To everyone's delight, it was the most attended reunion. With the exception of six classmates who were absent due to various reasons, 27 of us (Paul plus two instructors) were all meeting in one place. 

After lunch, we went to shopping and boating separately. Paul and I missed the boat by minutes. Fortunately, Jemmy called me while we were in despair, seeing the boat shooting by. He put six of us stragglers in the final boat after a hard bargain with the boat owner. 

Paul & I in the Boat

Courtesy of Paul Titangos Photography

At 8:00 pm sharp, the reunion of Foreign Language Training Class #3 commenced with a slide show curated by How Beautiful. The beginning was dedicated to Big Wang who was deceased more than four decades ago, and Yu Shuzhu who has been institutionalized. There were some speeches by participants, such as two instructors, Cincinnati Kid Shen Xiaoming, Model Teacher Kang Qing and me at the specific request of Zhou Yanchun, the main organizer. Then the dancing by Mary Wu, and singings by Wang, Wu, Li and topped by How Beautiful. Finally there was the climax of prizes hosted by Zhang Jun and drawn by Paul. All the pads went to a cluster of female classmates, one of who I had not seen since the final day of the class in 1978. I did win a sports watch, with no nepotism involved of course, since Paul does not know Chinese characters.

All of Us 

Courtesy of Paul Titangos Photography

The reunion ended with 毛阿敏的《同一首歌 》(The Same Song by Mao Amin), but was continued with the next day's breakfast and lunch, and many photo sessions by Instructor Yang, and mini discussions and chats. Afterwards, we were packed in one mini-bus to go to the Metro Station. At the Gate, there was a white Porsche stopped by the bar. After more than ten minutes' silent wait, Cincinnati Kid asked our drive to honk. It turned out the Porsche was none other than Mary's, with two passengers Yvonne Zhou and Zhang Jun. After the honk, out came Zhang to pay for some unknow fee to get through.

After a few stations on Line 16, the rural scene was behind us, the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan Shanghai awaited us. On April 20, Paul and I boarded our UA858 back to San Francisco. I am glad that I saw my instructors and classmates again. I am also glad that I am now in this country.