Footage of the 2013 Ride to the Flags in Newbury Park Today, September 14th

Since 1998, the annual Ride to the Flags event has taken hundreds of motorcyclists on a well organized ride to the Pepperdine University 9/11 Waves of Flags Memorial Display.  This is a charity event that raises funds and donates to persons and organizations affected by the tragedy of 9/11.

Between soccer games and errands, I was able to catch the 2013 Ride to the Flags the well organized calvacade at the corner of Lynn and Reino Roads in Newbury Park on its way to Potrero Road. Quite an impressive, patriotic sight!  For more information about the event and to make donations, visit www.ridetotheflags.com.

And speaking of the Pepperdine University 9/11 flag display, if you haven't seen it, you have to! It is on display this year until September 23rd.

Touching Story of 96 Year Old Fred Stobaugh and the Song He Wrote For Wife Lorraine

Grab the tissues. Here's a touching story of a man named Fred, 96 years old, who responded to a singer/songwriter contest with lyrics to a song to his wife, Lorraine. Although his entry was not accepted because his lyrics were not sung by him, his lyrics are brought to life. Watch the video to see what happens, and his reaction.

Wildlife Out and About in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Post-Springs Fire

The National Park Service estimated that some 70% of the 1,170 acre Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area in Newbury Park was impacted by the Springs Fire this past May. The impact on wildlife was staggering. With so much of the landscape charred, wildlife is frequently seen foraging around for food...deer, coyotes, rabbits, etc. More on Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center (thankfully not impacted by the fire due to the efforts of firefighters) at THIS LINK.

Where's the bunny? (Click image for link to larger image in Pinterest)

Where's the coyote? (Click image for link to larger image in Pinterest)

No problems spotting this beautiful King Snake crossing the trail.

And below are some deer caught foraging for food next to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center on a recent morning.

Beatles Tribute Band "Ticket to Ride" Performs True to Form Beatles Classics

Beatles tribute band Ticket to Ride looked the part yesterday at The Oaks Mall on the lawn adjacent to the Muvico theater as the crowd was serenaded with a wide range of Beatles classics. It was a perfect summer evening as the sun set behind us and we enjoyed both the great music and antics of this solid local tribute favorite. Enjoy a few snippets from their performance below.

Ticket to Ride is playing several more times this summer, including the Janss Marketplace Summer Concert Series and Concerts on the Green at Warner Park in Woodland Hills. CLICK THIS LINK for a compilation of free summer concerts in and around Ventura County.

My Vote For Cutest Video: Micah, the Baby Who Laughs Hysterically at Ripping Paper

This video was published in January 2011 and as of May 2013 has nearly 60 million views on YouTube (88.6 million views as of December 2016). There's a good reason for that. Micah, the baby who laughs hysterically at paper ripped in front of him, is extraordinarily cute. Posted here to bring a smile to your face today.

Elderly Oklahoma Tornado Survivor Discovers Pet Dog Alive During Television Interview

The tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma has been terrifying to see. This interview with an elderly woman who survived the tornado is touching in several respects. She is asked what it was like during the tornado; she says she was sitting on a stool with her dog in her arms in a small bathroom. Before she knew it she was lying in rubble. She called for her little dog and indicates the dog is missing and somewhere in the rubble.

The interviewer then asks "Are you able to comprehend yet what happened here?" and I love the woman's response, given with a grin "I know exactly what happened here. Exactly." Then "What do you think of all this, this is your neighborhood...I can't imagine.." and her reply "This is life in the big city." Literally a second later they discover the woman's dog, a little black terrier, alive in the rubble, to the joy of this woman and to all of us.