Sunday 2/28/2010 was the “main event” – Robert’s 50th birthday at the Willow Tree Chinese restaurant in Pleasanton.
The Willow Tree
Restaurant entrance. Elisheva: can you translate the Chinese over the entrance?
Inside the restaurant is a comedy/music room called “Bunjo’s that can seat 40 people. Robert is friends with the proprietor who hosted the party there.
The theme was Hawaiian and we all got Leys and name badges. Each name badge has the year you met Robert.
Robert and Naomi greet another guest from Seattle. There were four of us from Seattle and we car pooled.
David and Naomi.
A comedienne was hired to “roast” (insult) Robert on stage.
She brought a guitar
The Peaveys were there and it was great to catch up. All the kids are doing very well and excelling in soccer. Susan rarely strikes such dramatic poses but I caught her on camera.
Susan and Laura
Laura greets more guests.
And they pose for the camera.
The proprietor warms up with the comedienne.
Robert and Rita.
There was an awesome slide show with photos of Robert from baby pictures through his teenage years and into adulthood.
Guests mingle.
It’s odd how our careers twist and turn through the decades and shape our lives. Here we have a retired entrepreneur, a professional poker player, and a tax attorney for Honda Motors (USA) -- we had no idea when we were 18 where our lives would take us.
King Robert holds court on stage, ready for the “roast.”
The roast begins.
Dave Peavey continued the proctologic jokes with a garden hose.
With axel grease and a very long garden hose.
Robert’s college roommate from Champagne Urbana told embarrassing stories of Robert’s late teenage years.
Even Susan got up and told of their first few dates. They were quite romantic. She did not mention the tennis dates, though.
Susan held the audience in awe (she was better than the professional comedienne and the host).
I lit the 51 birthday candles on Robert A David (RAD’s) cupcakes (on a photo of pebble beach, his favorite golf course).
I had a great time and met some really cool people with whom I intend to stay in touch.
After the party we toured Robert’s house and met Cocoa the puppy.
The puppy missed Laura Beth and Emily Anne.
Susan in front of her kitchen / dining nook. The house is decorated with French wine posters.
We visited the guest house in the back yard where Emily lived for a while.
Robert’s huge motorcycle.
Sunken exercise hot tub. There is also a Boole (baci) court, a putting green, and a mini dog run (for the mini dog). It’s a nice house.
We piled into the car and drove the airport. My flight home was completely uneventful. The food in first class was fantastic. Gab and Eitana picked me up from the airport – I called when we taxied to the gate and they were there as I walked out the door. I almost finished Gladwell’s _What_the_dog_saw_ and loved every word (highly recommended).
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