Facebook memory from 2016 | TCI memories

This popped up today on my Facebook memories, from seven years ago today.  Even then it was a look back.  It refers to my time of working at TCI  (Telecommunications, Inc. of Los Angeles County) the City of Industry (15255 Salt Lake Avenue).  Traveling from Yosemite in September 25, 2016, I was back in the area to attend a security related meeting introducing industry vendors. 

Oddly, after Aramark laid me off in July 2018, I ended up there again on September 19, 2018 for a nearby job interview at Southern California Edison (which was a waste of time).  Then on October 6, 2020 and again on February 20, 2021, Knight brought me to the neighborhood.  

……………

Musing of a security dweeb.  

This area has history for me.  Just down the road, in Diamond Bar, during the early 1980s, my father created the first Cable TV franchise in unincorporated Los Angeles County. He tried to get me to be the GM.  I turned him down.  A year later, and with a better offer, I left the Sheriff's Office to work for my dad. I spent much of the following year in the area helping to build the DB cable system.  It was a challenge--and fun.  I loved the Cable TV biz.  Especially that era.  

To be frank, actually two Franks--some 15 years later, now 20 years ago (April 1, 1996 to be exact), thanks to my cousin Frank making some introductions after my father's passing, and Frank Maldonado, the GM of TCI of Los Angeles County at the time, I started my new professional path in corporate security working at this office as their first ever Security Manager.  Frank  M. thought a guy with both a strong cable and law enforcement background was what was needed.  If TCI doesn't sound familiar to you, that's a shame.  What a dynamic company it was!  Dreaming the future of media and its delivery, and then accomplishing it.  No one thought video could be delivered digitally, but TCI did.  

We hired a crew of Auditors and fumbled our way through building a loss prevention program from the ground up.  Thanks to a lot of people, including HR wizard and my sister-friend Nadean Dickey (who set a high bar for me to measure other HR managers and directors with integrity and insight), we must have done some good.  Two promotions and a move the the Bay Area resulted.  

I was able to work cases I never could have as a Deputy.  Countless theft of service and piracy cases resulting in millions of dollars in court ordered restitution (with an average 28% immediate pay rate), multimillions recovered in an internal theft case, installers and techs being shot at while on the poles while disconnecting people, fiber cuts, a joint investigation with the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation Unit that included at least on murder, one suicide, and six simultaneous search warrants being served in four different states, plus all the normal day-to-day "security" stuff like deploying camera and alarm systems to 50+ cable stores in three states.   And, getting to know awesome folks like Sean Duck.  

A "Dotcom Layoff" allowed me to land in Yosemite, where I thought it would be a fun job until a found a real job.  Yosemite sucked me in, like so many others.  I quickly learned to love Yosemite and it's people.  

As life does, it has brought me full circle back to this neighborhood for work.  A Yosemite patrol car parked where it all started, some 20 years ago.  And a fun few moments getting caught up with coworkers still here and getting a tour of the facility.  And, my dad's Diamond Bar system is now part of this one.  It might say Time Warner on the sign now and it was just purchased by Charter, but it's still TCI to me. 

No matter what happens in the near or far future, life has been friken grand!

………

September 19, 2018

October 6, 2020

(Rocking TCI decals on my truck.)

February 20, 2021

(Sadly, the front parking lot is now fenced.)

 

Birthday Girl Trip

We just returned from a celebratory trip to the coast for Kari’s birthday.  At our stage, it really makes it easy when she picks in advance where to stay, picks the restaurants and menu items she wants, then makes all the reservations.  ‘You can take the Business Manager out of the office, but you can’t… .’  😉 She’s a planner!  ❤️ 

We stayed at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch Inn in Carmel, Calif.  The room was wonderful.  The last time we stayed there was in 1989, when we saw Clint working away and taking the trash out to the dumpster.  No Clint sightings this time.  We got a kick out of the current Wi-Fi password, “makemystay.”  Dinner the first night was at the restaurant there.  It has a wonderful view overlooking the river bed and meadow, with the ocean in the background.   

Dinner for the birthday night was the Filet Mignon for the birthday girl and I had the Rack of Lamb.  Absolutely delicious!  

Breakfast the next morning was at nearby From Scratch.  We last ate here in 2014.  It’s a hidden jem that I think we heard about from a local.   Then about three years ago it was on Guy Fieri “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”  It’s t still a great place and recommend it.   

We walked around downtown Carmel, down to the beach and back—of course picking up a few items to bring home.  A couple lovebirds center pieces for our coffee table and of course, another loud squeeze toy for Parfait.   

Dinner the second night was at Roy’s, inside The Inn at Spanish Bay golf resort.  Kari had her eyes on one her favorites, Sea Bass, but they were out of it.  She opted for Halibut.  I caved and had the “surf and turf” called the Big Island Special.  It was a hearty serving of wood fired New York steak and Australian lobster served with an indescribably delicious sauce on it (rather than the traditional butter sauce).  

People-watching can be entertaining.   Spanish Bay is the golf course where the course is closed every day with a bagpiper playing as they stroll up the 18th fairway.  It’s a cool tradition.  Our table had a great view of the bagpiper and to people-watch.  As we went through our appetizers and salads, it was oddly interesting that the bulk of people rushed forward when the music started and bagpiper not in sight, but had left the patio area by the time the bagpiper actually got up to the patio.

The next day, relaxed and stuffed, but still no Sea Bass, we stopped at a favorite fish market in Carmel, Sea Harvest.  They had a great selection of Sea Bass that we took home and Kari prepared.  It just melts in your mouth like ice cream!

Parfait stayed at home while “mom and dad” went away for some fun.   Our neighbors across the street, Kaide and Tim, checked in on her.   Parfait was spoiled and got walks to the park.  Kaide was great sending photos and videos to us.  We had to laugh at the Ring doorbell footage of Parfait shooting out the front door on one of the visits.  Parfait won’t go far when lovin’ or food is coming up.  

In October it’s back to Seymour the trailer with a trip planned to nearby Bass Lake where Kari spent many summers staying at her grandparents home.   

FJ Day

Checking in this morning at Selma Toyota for a standard LOF service. They always do a great job.  

Afterward I got a text from the dealer asking if I’d be interested in selling it.  I didn’t respond. Not much later, I got a telephone call asking the same.  I laughed while saying I don’t think she could offer enough. She paused and chuckled too.  She definitely gets it.  It’s still interesting to see the strong interest in 15 year old cars.  

Later in the day I was heading home and another Sun Fusion owner spotted me. 

   

Nosebleed seats

Hurricane Hilary leftovers: Kinda feeling like I’m at a once in a lifetime concert, but all I could get for seating was up in the nosebleed seats.  I can see parts of the show, occasionally hear the bass booming through, but can’t see or feel the details.  😂

First Tropical Storm?

The National Weather Service says California has its first ever Tropical Storm Warning thanks to Hurricane Hilary. 

 

An omen? I hope not.  5:53 pm several loud claps of thunder followed by a moderate downpour of large drops of rain.  6:01 pm, the power goes out and then the rain stopped.  Only 50 minutes later, the power came back on.  Maybe that’s all that will happen, but if the weak first band took power out…ugh.  

Rotary Club Youth Exchange Sendoff

It was almost like Yosemite day at the Fresno Airport yesterday morning.  The gathering was to send off high school student Maddie (third from the left) on her year-long Rotary Group Study Exchange to Bonn, Germany.  She’s an amazing young lady.  If you have a person in your life that’s entering high school and want to offer an incredible experience to add to their life, reach out to your local Rotary Club (or contact me for a referral).   

The family cued up at the airport in front of the National Park advertisement filled with people I know and miss.  

Then walking out to my car, came across this familiar rig.  

Of course, I just happened to wear one of my old department fire shirts.  😂

July 2023, Days 15-16

We said our goodbyes to cousin Tish in Yerington, NV and headed home.  Yes, we could have made the drive in one day, yet we decided to stop about half way at the Jackson Rancheria Casino RV Resort.  No photos of the park, but it was very nice, and we’d happily stay there again.  

On the last leg home, another trailer sandwich lunch didn’t sound good, so the In-N-Out in Merced was a temptation we couldn’t resist.  

Sixteen days, 1,855 miles,  so many wonderful times, stories, and smiles with family and fiends—all were awesome hosts.  We can’t thank you enough!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MVvtC742BjE&feature=sharea

July 22, Day 9-July 27, Day 14

Bam! Where did the days go?  No internet, too tired, and just having fun.  

We left Diamond Lake and headed north to Bend, Ore.  Along the way we knocked off another old stop for me that I could share with Kari, Gordy’s Truck Stop in La Pine, where the restaurant makes a great BLT that we enjoyed for a trailer lunch.  We checked in at Crown Villa RV Resort, a Sun Outdoors property.  There for two nights, it was a bit disappointing.  Sun Outdoors properties are usually very nice.  Unfortunately, this one is suffering some severe staffing problems.  The lawns hadn’t been mowed for far too long a time, and the daily trash pickups weren’t picked up the entire time we were there and longer.  It was quiet and beautiful, just off their mark.  

We did grocery shopping in Bend, and Parfait got a new toy.  Its name is “Bendy” and she apparently loves it.  

From Bend we headed south, backtracking, ending up at out first Harvest Host location, Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Chiloquin, Ore.  Harvest Host is a service where businesses can offer overnight parking to RVs in exchange for $30 worth of purchases or donations.  It was a really cool experience.  A great walking tour and museum (we arrived too late for the train tour along 37 miles of track).  The recently received tanker car from Madera that transported wine back east was a fun catch.  They have a nice Harvest Host campground onsite for visitors.  It was very quiet and peaceful.  

The next day we headed to the 100 acre ranch of Kari’s cousin, Paul, in Greenville, Calif.  What an amazing place!  A couple years ago, the massive Dixie Fire surrounded him and almost took all his forest products and structures.  Fighting against all odds, he saved the main house, shop, and guest cabins.  The nearby town of Greenville was one of the towns burned down, and they are aggressively rebuilding.  Paul and his partner Grace were awesome hosts.  

We are now in Yerington, Nevada visiting another cousin of Kari, Tish.  She lives on a wonderful ten acre ranch.  Her 13-year old “puppy” Rascal and Parfait have hit it off as best buddies.  

Thanks to Paul and Tish, we are really enjoying sleeping in real beds and fantastic home cooking.