Near Palermo

Mobile Phone Post via SMS: We are near Palermo, Italy between Sicily and Italy. Today is a sea day. We are close enough to shore to get a cell signal so I can post via SMS.

New Grandson

Baby Jacob
Jeff posted this photo of little Jake. Isn't he a darling? We are in Greece. I went into town and had a Gyro, a Beer and found this Internet shop!

Katakolon wanderings and wine

I went into Katakolon and found an Internet shop and a Wine shop. Katakolon would be a nice place if there were no tourisits. We have ruined Katakolon. The wine shop is Nicolos Cellars. I think I suprised the sales person when I said I wanted to try some local varietals and NOT the same varietals we get in California.

Sue is sick in Katakolon!

Mobile Phone Post via SMS: We are in Katakolon, Greece. Sue is sick so we are staying on the ship. We are not going to Olympia. It is like spending a day in an elegant hotel with a lovely view. We are both reading good books.

We are in Athens

Mobile phone post via SMS: We are about to visit the Acropolis. It is a natural citadel, a fortress. It is a lovely day in Greece. Today is clear but smoggy. Athens is a big city with lots of high rise buildings. We are having fun, but we have not seen anything that makes us want to return.

Sailing day today

Mobile Post via SMS: Today was a sailing day. I did laundry and we rested. We go to Athens in the morning. The only way I can post to the Internet is to text message from my Treo. These posts have to be short!

Istanbul memories

Mobile Post via SMS: We had a great day in Istanbul. It is a lovely city. Many contrasts! Many wonderful memories. We wish we could spend a week here.

With Ephesus!

Mobile Post via SMS: We just got back from Ephesus where the Ephesians (like in the new testament) lived. Amazing place! Turkey totally suprised me. It was absolutely lovely. The older I get the more I have to learn!

New Grandson

What a wonderful thrill. Check out his blog!

New Granson, post 1

1/2 New Grandson - Son Jeff sent this text message on the 23rd: Jacob Adam Christopher Sloan was born at 1:18PM. He is 7lb5o 2/2 z, 20 inches long!!!! Yay

We are in greece

Mobile Post via SMS: Landing in Rhodes, Greece.

We are back on our ship

Mobile Post via SMS: We are back on our ship in Naples harbor. Meanwhile back in San Jose Nicole's labor is progressing. Tomorrow we will be at sea.

Cameraphone: Lunch on Amalfi coast

Mobile Post via SMS: We had a great meal in a tiny Italian village.

We are in Amalfi Italy

Sue and I are on a tour on the Amalfi coast. It is an awesome day in Italy. Meanwhile, back in California son Jeff and his wife Nicole are having a baby. Stay tuned, I will post more when I know more.

Chow Baby!

Pulling into Naples

Cameraphone Post: We are pulling into Naples Italy
Mobile Post via SMS: Our cruise ship is pulling into Naples harbor. Meanwhile Nicole is inducing labor in San Jose.

Spanish Steps in Rome

Mobile Phone Post via SMS: We had a great morning in Rome now we are headed to the ship.

When in Rome...

I am in Rome at an Internet Cafe. Sigh, I can't check my Email because the keyboard is wonky. We had a very rough flight and I am going on about 36 hours without sleep and I don't know if I will ever find the motel again where Sue is sleeping. But, we are having fun!

Bonosera!

PS I have never seen so many scooters!

Camera phone in chicago

Mobile Phone Post via SMS: We are in Chicago changing planes on our way to Rome. Hanging out at the bar drinking wine.

Going off the grid

I will be back around October 9, 2007.

Happy Blogging!

~Steve

Day after a great birthday

Great birthday thanks to family and friends!
Yesterday I had a great birthday celebration with friends and family. We opened some of the best wine we have and enjoyed some great times and great food. It was a lot of fun!

Brunch at Stacks
We went to Stacks in Campbell for brunch. This is a big favorite of mine. They make terrific breakfasts. Sue's mom Frances, Sons Kenneth and Jeff, Jeff and his wife Nicole's daughter Madison joined Sue and I. We had a great time together as a family.

Model train operation session
After brunch Jeff, Madison and I went to the Model Railroad club in Agnews. It just so happened the club was having an operations session there that day. It was Jeff and Madison's first time at the train club. The club is in an old railroad depot from the 1870's and the mail line is right next to the tracks. So we got to see both little and real trains go by.

Dinner with friends
After the train club we joined Kevin and Jolyce at Viva's in Los Gatos. We brought two of the best bottles of wine we had and had them at dinner (they do corkage.) That was a real treat, thank you! After dinner we met Pam and Patty at our house. They brought some great wine to the evening. Pam brought a bottle of Opus One! It was the first time I have ever had that. It was wonderful. So far, 52 is good.

Still waiting for grandson news
We are still waiting for news regarding Jeff and Nicole's impending birth of their second child. It could come any time! Today is Luci's birthday. Happy birthday Luci!

[More birthday photos on Flickr]

Technorati Tags: Jeff Sloan, Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Patty talking about rides

Camerphone post: Friday evening at Aquis
Patty, who recently finished the huge Paris-Brest-Paris tells ride stories Friday evening at Aquis in Campbell.

Last Whine and Dine Ride of 2007

Wednesday was last Whine and Dine Ride
Last Wednesday was the last regularly scheduled Whine and Dine ride of 2007. Tyler will be doing quick spinner rides starting at five for a few more weeks. We had a great turn out. Patty, bless her heart, even arranged for a birthday cake for Mylo and I. Kathy also celebrated her birthday from last Sunday with us.

[More whine and dine photos here on Flickr]

August Fun Times

Whine and Dine Celebration
We had a great time celebrating Patty's celebration of the PBP in August. We partied in downtown Campbell until late at night.

[Click here for more Pics from Patty's Party]

I am in Sacramento

I am in Sacramento
Next month is the union's big bi-annual state wide convention. This year it is in San Jose and we are preparing to cover this event.

Did you know?

You have to see this!

rms at SJSU

Phone Post: "rms" speaking at SJSU
Richard Matthew Stallman who launched the GNU Project (Gnu's not Unix) expousing Free Software that sought to and finally brought to the world a free version of UNIX (with help from Linus Torvolds) spoke at SJSU today. Most of what he said I have already heard, but what a thrill it was to hear rms (lower case intentional) say it himself. In the first edition of the Hacker's Dictionary, he wrote, "'Richard Stallman' is just my mundane name; you can call me 'rms'." This was the name he used in him computer accounts. Hacker, in those days, was a term for a person who made things work through unique and creative methods and it did not have the negative connotation it now has.

UPDATE: Photos here on Flickr

Dane Doing iPhone Talk

Cameraphone Post: iPhone talk at SJSU
Dane Riley is shown here while giving a talk on the Apple iPhone today at SJSU. What a cool device this is. It is going to be especially fun to see where this platform goes.

Smoke Light

The last few days we have had the most amazing light.
The fire east of Morgan Hill has cast a fog of brown over the valley and the effect has been surreal.

New Apple Store in Los Gatos

Today they opened an Apple Store in Los Gatos
Despite a day today that was over twelve hours, I had to stop there on my way home. It is close to where we live! No, I did not get a T-shirt.

It is hard to resist Apple's products
No matter what your age.

Fire Season

The other California season
It is that time of year. That scarey season in California that bridges late summer and early fall. It is fire season and the hills are starting to burn.

We are at the beach

Camera Phone Post
We are at New Brighton State Beach, near Capitola. It is amazingly warm, even hot here at the beach. That is unusual, usually the beaches around here are mild, downright cold.

My brother Lloyd and his family, 1965

My brother Lloyd and his family
More picture taken by dad. These photos were taken in front of Mom and Dad's house just about this time of year 42 years ago. The bare lawn under their feet is where they put in the sewer line after our neighborhood became part of the town of Concord, CA. It replaced our septic tank.

[More old family photos here]