The Taylors (and Thomas)

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Some time ago Thomas McCormack asked if he could stay with us during the Miramar Air Show. This is an amazing airshow. He didn’t ask us to come with him but Lisa and planned to join him because it is always an amazing experience. The airshow was on September 26. The airshow runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday but we planned on going on Saturday.

As it turned out, Samarah and family were on a cruise the week leading up to the airshow. The cruise left out of Long Beach Harbor and for convenience they were planning on staying in a hotel close to the harbor. They arrived back on Friday, September 25 so Lisa and I decided to go up and meet them at the ship and spend the day with them. Thomas could come with us or chill at the house.

In the end Sarah asked if we could bring them home and then take them to LAX on Saturday. That was much better because it allowed us to spend more meaningful time together with their family.

The port was quite fascinating. I’ve worked with the port on various projects but I’ve never actually been there. I finally made it through the huge line of cars picking up passengers and then headed home. Thomas came with us.

The first thing we did when we got back was give everyone their birthday gifts. The kids were very excited, and it was fun to watch them open their presents.

The second thing we did was make lemonade. I love how this has become a tradition and it is the first thing the grandkids ask for when they come. I never have to suggest it, they always ask to make lemonade.

Mom wanted to go to a Westview football game that night and asked Thomas and Sarah if they wanted to go. Thomas is always up for football and Sarah wanted to see some of her old teachers. We only stayed until half time, but it was fun and Sarah was able to see lots of people. I think this guy’s name is Jamal.

Saturday morning, we had to divide and conquer. Sarah and Sam had to get back to LAX. I felt I needed to go to the airshow with Thomas plus I wanted to anyway. Mom didn’t want to drive back from LAX alone, so I went with Thomas, Mandy agreed to go with Mom and Samarah, and we all had a fun day.

The airshow was amazing. My two favorite things were the new F-35B. From what I can tell it is the most dangerous weapon on earth. The Navy has a couple of F-35B’s. The F-35B has a lift fan so it can take off to enable short takeoff and landing. It can work from an aircraft carrier.

And then of course, I always love the Blue Angels.

Mom and Sarah had some time in the morning, so they went to the beach before heading north.

On the way home mom and Mandy stopped for dinner and checked out some shops.

It was a long but very fun day for all of us.

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An average dog is about as smart as a two year old child. 

That explains a lot about them both.

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The Side Yard

Wednesday, September 24, 2026

Now that I have all those rocks moved from the side of the house I can get back to work on extending my retaining wall. Jeff and Zander came over and helped me get started on jack hammering out the old wall. Now I can start extending the new wall. It is going to be nice to have extra space here. I do have to admit that old wall was well built. It is going to be difficult getting it out of there.

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Animal crossings near Banff have cut animal deaths by 94%. Grizzlies are teaching their young to use the crossings. Before the contruction of the crossings, the DNA of the animals on either side of the freeway was starting to diverge.

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The Back Yard

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

While the side and front yards are undergoing a lot of change, my backyard continues to be a source of a lot of joy. Rabbits are continuously feeding on our lawn and then a couple of weeks ago we saw this doe and fawn enjoying the grass that was in bad need of mowing. I’m kind of torn about this, I love to watch the animals in my yard, but I suspect that those rabbits are what keeps eating my tomatoes and strawberries. I haven’t caught them in the act yet, but as soon as I do, I may need to start discouraging their visits.

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On November 20, 1980 a oil drilling crew was drilling on an island in Louisiana's Lake Peigneur. Lake Peigneur was a popular recreational lake with an average depth of about ten feet. Below the lake was a salt mine which reached as deep as 1,500 feet. The drilling team knew about the salt mine but the plan was to avoid any mine shafts. As luck would have it, the drill was 400 feet off of its target and punctured one of the shafts. 

Fortunately a miner noticed the incoming water early and sounded a warning that got all the miners out in the knick of time. The drilling team was also able to flee in time. A lone fisherman was able to make it to the shore in time. The drilling team, along with the fisherman, stood on the banks of the lake and watched in horror as a huge whirl pool formed and proceeded to swallow, the drilling platform, much of the island, 11 barges, a tugboat, many trees, and 65 acres of the surrounding terrain. 

The lake had a canal that flowed from the lake to the Gulf of Mexico. As the lake disappeard, the canal started flowing backwards. As the sea water continued to fall into the large hole that had formed, it became Louisiannas tallest water fall, at least for a few days. As the mining shafts filled with sea water the displaced air was forced out the mining shafts. As the shafts filled, the compressed air transisitioned into 400 foot geysers. 

Several days after the disaster, and as things came to equilibrium, nine of the eleven barges popped back to the surface and remained floating on the surface of the new salt water lake. Lake Peigneur is now Louisianas deepest lake with a maximum depth of 200 feet. The only lives lost were those of three dogs. 

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The Front Yard

Friday September 11, 2026

I think I have already talked about the chain of events that led to me completing a number of jobs that were not planned. Last February I was going to start extending my wall. Here it is eight months later and once again, I am ready to start extending my wall.

It was the big pile of rocks that had to be moved before I could work on the wall and Monday they all got moved.

With the plants gone, the stucco repaired, the drip system in place and the weed barrier in place we could move the rocks. Bishop Andrew (I’m still getting used to calling him that) brought the priests over on Monday morning (Labor Day) and in two hours we were done. It would have taken me two big days of hard labor to do that.

The rock only made it two thirds of the way around the front yard but that isn’t a problem because I will now be digging out the wall on the side of the house to extend my new wall. That means I will be moving a lot of dirt which means I will come across plenty of rocks to extend my rock bed.