Nightglow Window

Christmas Number...Hmm?

Well, let's see: Debbie and Terry, My Dad, Christmas Morning, Grandpa JP -- I guess that would make it number five.

So, Christmas number five, the penultimate celebration (Liz and Jeff and Lisa and Martin and all the kids are coming over New Year's Day), was with my brother and his family at Olamendi's in Capistrano Beach.

Olamendi's is a local institution, a classic Mexican restaurant that's gotten funkier as the years have gone by. The menu used to claim that it was Richard Nixon's favorite restaurant when he was living at the Western White House -- which you can almost see as you gaze down the coast from the front door.

You can just imagine ol' Tricky Dicky, rubbing his hands together, while Henry Kissinger walked hangdog behind him, muttering, "Olamendi's again Mr. President?"

The stories must be a bit true. There are lots of Nixon snapshots on the walls, along with those of GW and other, better, more likable presidents. But the photos compete with a ton of other sights -- it looks like a Day Of The Dead fiesta in here.

After a great lunch we walk over to the beach, where Christy tells the girls they can each take home two stones. Hannah finds the one she likes, a fifteen-pound monster, and can't be dissuaded from keeping it. She gets the joke and has a half smile cocked on her face the whole time -- even as she carries it up and down the stairs of the overpass.


The world famous Olamendi's.


The O'Brien clan. Check out the cool-guy scruff beard on my brother. Rico ... Sauve.


Dia de los Muertos anyone?


Another day in, well, you know ...


Poorly lit family portrait. Fire that photographer!


Hee Hee and Hannah.


Another in a growing collection of foot photos. Sydney, looking for those two special rocks.


Hannah makes her choice.


Hannah, past the overpass, getting tuckered out and on the lookout for cops.