I’m getting better at building and engineering a bit on the fly to get things to work. I began by creating a new layout in this new location in the garage with a three-table setup. I added some extra cars to this train, and in the end you’ll see I actually get the whole train to go up the elevated track repeatedly, but there are some false starts. There’s also a cameo from foster dog Werner, who keeps jumping up in an attempt to chase the train on a few cycles.
Category Archives: Art
Mare Island Stroll
Strolling around Mare Island after the Yappy Hour to see the very cool art and views.
20260605 Lego Train Setup
U-shaped three-table LEGO train setup with first street car built. I had a major derailment at one point, which took me over an hour to repair. I had a track on the far end dangle too far over, and the train smashed to the floor. That’s one of the good things about using Lego trains, though. It’s kind of fun to rebuild.
Lego Train Project Expands
My expanding LEGO train project here is now on three folding tables. I’m trying to be creative with the tracks after seeing some mind-blowing setups online that must have cost many thousands of dollars. With this unconventional shape, though, I do not have full connectivity, so I’m going to have to order a couple more pieces to make the track whole. Stay tuned for updates. I might need a bigger garage.
Dreamgirls and Minnie Riperton Tributes
In Vallejo’s Empress Theatre, we went to an R&B Girl Band Tribute that was amazing. The talent across the board was top-notch! I can’t believe how many chills I got. There was a version of “And I’m Telling You” that was spot on. Most notable was a tribute to Minnie Riperton, which really sold me on going. The whistle register of the singer Paris Monea was perfect, yet she still had complete originality in her interpretation of these very difficult songs. It was an extra coincidental pleasure that I ran into my friend Barbara, who was right in front of us by seat assignment! If you ever get a chance to see Nzuri Soul, Artensia Young, and Kayla Cunningham, please do! The Bay Area has so much talent!
Lego Train Project Begins
I struggled with where to put the Lego train and other Lego projects, since having it on the dining room table was just a proof of concept. My home office does not have a practical place where the curves of the track would work on a sustainable level. I was thinking of putting one under my back deck cover, but I ended up putting some old folding tables together in the wonderful space I have in the 3-car garage, where I eventually want to put the ping-pong, pool combination table that converts into a flat top table. This gives me even more space to build after being inspired by so many Lego train videos online. I can’t begin to compete with some of those, but I can still enjoy it on a smaller scale. There is still a kid in me.
When I was growing up in Spain, we had something called “Castillos” which was a Lego knock-off. It was all about building castles, and that’s where I got the love of brick building toys. Obviously, the variety of Lego was more appealing when I got back to the States, and many years later, in 2017, I visited a Lego store in Copenhagen, which was very cool. For those who don’t know, Lego is a Danish invention.
Benicia Art Galleries
We did a quick stop in Benicia on our way back from Martinez. Shea has worked in Benicia for years, but never went down to the area where the art studios are. There was a thrift store of sorts within it, which we saw on the map, so we bought some clothes and a few odds and ends.
I always love the gardens here, but in a month or two, they will be even more brilliant when everything is in full bloom. We were tripping over this repurposed planter, which obviously came from the shipping area nearby.
Greek Fisherman’s Cap
I’ll have to wear my newly thrifted Greek Fisherman’s cap when I row. I didn’t know why I liked it when I saw it, but I really like it (even though it was made in Tarzana, California).
First Haul from Vicki Gray Estate
These are the things I was willing to pay full price for on the first day of the estate sale, with no regrets.
I love this panorama of the Bixby Bridge near Big Sur. My first trip with Shea was down here and we got some great pictures by this bridge, so it’s sentimental for that reason, and also because my dad was born in Monterey.
This little ceramic piggy bank has Carmel and Monterey written on it, so that was why I got it in memory of my father, even though I won’t use it as a piggy bank.
This London telephone booth bank is going to be very practical since I collect change and immediately deposit it in the bank whenever I have a few coins to make sure I don’t hang on to it around the house. It’s a petpeeve of mine to have change fall out of pants pockets.
There’s a tiny stained glass window hanger which I don’t think I even got charged for.
The steamboat wheels actually roll and it’s actually very utilitarian because it’s a pencil sharpener!
The golden apple is actually a bell so I can summon Shea when he doesn’t respond to me!
The Berliner bear is very cool. I’ve been to a lot of the tourist spots featured on him, and it continues the very appropriate bear motif.
This is a ceramic Mexican skull for Dia de los Muertos, obviously, but it has a tiki light on top of it, which of course I will never ignite. However I believed it to be a hanger when I first saw it, so I might fuse it together and hang it from the awning when I move back, perhaps near my hot tub.
I’m a sucker for most Snoopy stuff since my grandfather was a big Peanuts fan. That’s why my dog is named Snoopy, after my grandfather’s dog, which was after Charlie Brown’s dog. I did visit the Charles Shulz Museum several months ago.
This boat in the foreground is very cool as well. It unfortunately has a tear in the sail, which I hope I can fix with some subtle scotch tape.
This is one of the big boats that I’ll be putting up above the divider between my bedroom and the wet room that I’ve designed.
Here’s a picture of the new boat next to another one I purchased at a Benicia antique store about a year ago.
Rowing and Dog Sculptures
On Facebook marketplace I found two fabulous sculptures from a woman in Clayton. I had never been to Clayton and didn’t realize how gorgeous that area was at the foot of Mount Diablo. I had to stop the car and take pictures.
In any event, she had two pieces that were really calling out to me on two subjects that I love so much – dogs and rowing, so when I had a chance to pop by after running errands in the East Bay, I was glad they were still available for me to swing by and pick up on my way back to Vallejo.
