NY to CA-8

Day 14 Friday 7/21/17

My inbox receives quite a few weather advisories regarding the potential for nasty weather in the northeast particularly in the Hudson Valley region. Many times the t'storms predicted are so scattered they seldom affect the region.  Here in San Jose, the weather is hot (97° currently out on the deck) with a slight breeze and no clouds in the sky. Worse yet are the straw covered hills I've called tinderboxes in a previous post. For that, I worry. Inside it's quite comfortable and the evenings are pleasant enough outside for us to enjoy our dinners.
Today, Chuck showed me his 3-D printer and we made a cable holder for my dash in the RV.

Ultimaker 2 Plus Extended

I had a choice of colors and textures.

Took the spool of colored plastic desired and...

...replaced the one currently in use with... 

...my choice of color; black

The data from an SD card is programmed
into the printer and...

...it proceeds to heat, melt and transfer
the plastic into the pattern desired.

Back and forth and in circular patterns,
the printer continues to extrude the plastic
from the spool layer after layer...

...for about an hour until the product
is completed.

Then it was time for dinner...homemade pizza...from scratch. I know you know how to make pizza, but you also know my love for procedures and photographing food (not to mention more photos, less writing).

The bread machine does it all

Measured amounts of flour, salt, and sugar.

Yeast in warm water

Mixed (kneaded) until blended...

...then given a chance to rise.

Fresh bufala mozzarella, ricotta di bufala,

and fiordilatte for pizza, fresh from the
motherland.

Fresh mozzarella

Shredded

Dough split into  equal portions...

...flattened and given the Goomba toss
or
flattened and tossed by the Goomba.

Silvia prepares the toppings as.....

...Chuck prepares the oven.

Ceramic base takes the 600+ heat

Appropriate cutlery in place

And another finished product done to perfection.

Day 15 Saturday 7/22/17

Saturday was spent at the Almaden Valley Action Pistol Shooting Club in San Jose for a qualifying match for both Chuck and Aaron. A great father-son sporting event. Temperature reached up to 100° for the 9 to 5 event. Chuck and Aaron stood in the sun the entire time while I slow baked under the erected canopy. Very little humidity was the blessing. My 6 videos of them shooting are of such poor quality I'm not bothering to try to include them in the blog. Uploading to YouTube didn't improve matters, so still shots will have to do. If you're interested in seeing them, email me.

Registration. Even I, as spectator, needed to
fill out release forms and sign in.

Briefing regarding procedures, targets and course.
There are exacting rules set by the national organizaton
so that competitions around the country are uniform

Target layout for first round

Target layout for second round. I didn't photograph
the third round configuration.

Final check of equipment

Instructions posted; in this event hands
must be on marked "X's" before timer begins. 

Chuck ready to time next shooter. When signal from
timer is given, shooter draws from holster, fires twice at
each target from left side, releases and replaces magazine and
fires twice at each target from the right side
...all in about 8-10 seconds.

I was cautioned to be watchful for ticks....

...and rattlesnakes but....

...Jack was a passing spectator not a target.

At 15, Aaron's already has the fundamentals
for skill, responsibility, respect and love for the sport...

...having learned from the Pro. At the end of a long and very
hot day, the father-son benefits cannot be measured.