This is the 20th year of the Polar Express in Old Sacramento and I have never experienced it until tonight. Thank you so much BarbaraL for inviting me and a few other friends to be a part of “friends and family night” – a free event for those who will be working the upcoming holiday season.

Except for the Santa and entertainers, everyone else is a volunteer.

We were in a first class car, the French Quarter.

Paper cups of hot chocolate inside a commemorative mug .. and hot! Just made.

On the way to the North Pole, the book Polar Express was read aloud. Copies of the book were passed out, nice to be able to see author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg’s illustrations. When we arrived, Santa and entertainers greeted us, then turned and walked down some steps …

and suddenly appeared in our car and gave out an engraved jingle bell to every passenger.

While Santa made his way to the rest of the cars, staff interacted with passengers. A long-time friend of BarbaraL, they’ve worked together for years. She’s a retired teacher who can translate Russian and Ukrainian.

Coming back to the font of the car near the end of the ride. Santa “ran” down the aisle and make to .. ? as the train arrived back in Old Sac.

A final stop before heading home. This is where BarbaraL will be working for the next few weeks, attending to Santa.

Thank you Barbara for another wonderful experience. You are the best!

A relaxing morning with coffee, lots of football, and a jigsaw puzzle. What’s not to love?

In the early afternoon, we drove to Nevada City.

We went to a live performance at the Nevada Theater.

It turned out to be a special event, very moving. Paul Godwin and Anni McCann worked for months to create this performance, selecting songs, rehearsing, etc. Four weeks ago, Paul Godwin suddenly passed away. With the support of Paul’s wife, Ameera, they decided the show would go on. Jay Tausig and Elena Rayo (and one more person whose name didn’t make it onto the poster above) stepped in to perform Paul’s parts in the program. In the middle of the program, there was a beautiful video of Paul playing the piano and singing one song – not a dry eye in the house.

Lol: during intermission, Maria found an old friend she hadn’t seen in a long time.

After dinner, we went to dinner at Dakan:

Another wonderful dining experience. From the raw bar: oysters and Wagyu carpaccio.

Hamachi sashimi.

My favorite. Yakiniku skewers with Kosho lime cabbage salad.

I was in foodie heaven for two days which means I should also mention the delicious dishes Maria made for breakfast and lunch: a yummy breakfast casserole and Italian sausage orzo soup. Thank you Maria – great visit and unbelievable meals.

Maria and I met and became friends in 1975 when we were neighbors, had the same due date for our first-borns, and bonded over a couple of very good dinners. This year, our babies turned 50 years old.

Penn Valley has great fall colors.

I drove up to Maria’s Saturday afternoon. We were sitting on the front porch and heard a voice talking to us. It was Tim .. on the Ring camera .. he’s in Cabo San Lucas!

A unique dinner experience at a restaurant very close to Maria’s house, Twelve 28. Probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

Maria unexpectedly runs into people she knows everywhere we go.

Pork and a pancake: ginger soy-glazed crispy braised pork belly, savory cabbage pancake “okonomiyake” crispy house ramen noodle, asian bbq sauce, shoyu egg yolk jam, yuzu kosho aioli, marinated grannysmith apple, furikake, micro cilantro.

Pok pok bok bok: mary’s chicken (two drums, two thighs. and two double-boned wings) tossed in a Thai sweet and spicy glaze, garlic chips crushed toasted peanuts, micro cilantro and fresh lime. OMG!! Everything was incredibly delicious.

Dessert? Of course. We shared a Twelve 28 dream bombé: shortbread cookie topped with a graham peanut butter layer and semisweet chocolate mousse finished with a semisweet chocolate ganache, Maldon sea salt and a touch of edible stardust.

Quite special! Be sure to make a reservation.