California Trip Part Two

   By now, my throat is so sore I can barely speak (can you imagine!?) and we were both dragging.
   We got to our room at the Airport Hyatt where I read and slept, ate some Cracker Jacks and drank some wine and was done for the night. (Health nut! fiber and antioxidants)
   Lar watched some of the World Series, spoke with son and grandson Larry and then went down to the sports bar in the hotel for dinner – wearing his Phillies hat. He watched the rest of the game there, but I was asleep and unreachable by phone, by chat or in any other way!
Sunday 1 November 2009
   What a beautiful day! We had coffee in bed; we both read some and then headed down for breakfast. The hotel has a gorgeous atrium, live jazz playing softly in the background and a terrific buffet. Seattle’s Best Coffee – it really is the best!
   We departed from the hotel and drove with perfect instructions from “Pete” the GPS to The Wharf. I snapped some pictures entering the city – the old Stadium and the new AT and T. We got registered and moved into our terrific room at the Radisson. Lar unpacked some of his things, but I am a bit terrified to even open my suitcase. Get it opened it might explode. Take anything out and we might not get it back. We have misplaced the confirmation for our tour tomorrow, so Lar called and discovered we will need to have a 0630 wake up call. Since that will actually feel like something nearer to 9 or 9:30 am it might not be bad.
   We checked with the concierge on directions for the Wharf, but as I was making sure of what I’d learned on line, he laughed and said, “you really know it all!” so I guess the internet did have me prepared.
   Went to Boudins for lunch – Lar had clam chowder and I organic tomato soup both in sour dough bowls. They deserve their reputation – really good food. We both had a Red Tail beer – recommended by our cashier…a young girl who says if we liked that we should try Hawk’s Eye (I think)….we did like the Red Tail, but never did get to try the other.
   We walked along enjoying the sun, the shops, and the atmosphere. The Wharf gets some bad press, people saying it is too touristy, etc., but we really enjoyed it… - but then….we were tourists! We took pictures of each other at the Fishermans Wharf sign which I believe might be a requirement to prove you are a dorky tourist.
   Finally found the cable car station, after walking quite a way the wrong way, and got aboard. For the ride up, we were seated inside, it was difficult to see and almost impossible to take any pictures. Coming down, Lar held us back so we were first in line for the next car and we got to sit in front…..wow! What a crazy city…..you can’t even comprehend those hills, those streets, those buildings on such a slant! What fun! Sometimes I got distracted thinking about how one would go about building the jam-packed buildings that appear to be holding on with their finger nails. Amazing.
   Walking back to the Wharf, we stopped for post cards and I was able to find a snow globe for oldest granddaughter. We stopped back at Boudins for a sourdough baguette, a chunk of Organic Spring Hill Jersey Jack Cheese (fabulous!) and a Pinot Noir by Buena Vista Carneros – very robust! As we were taking it back to our room to enjoy with the baseball game we met an Irish couple from Cork. Had a lovely chat with them and then up to our simple meal as we watched the game. I took a picture of Lar with the food and wine to send to Richard and Jois – reminded us of our similar meal with them in our room in New England.
  I finished reading “Killed by Clutter” Leslie Caine.
Monday 2 November 2009
   Slept in 20 minute increments, up at 5:30 AM. Begin to read “Critical” by Robin Cook. Wrote a few postcards.
   Down to the lobby to print confirmation for our tour. We took our breakfast from a little food cart – coffee, muffin, banana, and an apple for later. We sat outside around a fire pit, cozy and the fire was needed to take the chill off. There was a couple taking pictures of each other, I offered to take some of them both. We got to talking and discovered they are from Bucks County PA, near the Buck Hotel and he was originally from Mayfair. Talked quite some time. He told us his parents have been on over 70 (!) cruises. Maybe one day we’ll make that a goal!
   Then another couple sat with us a while – from Wisconsin. We chatted until time for our bus.
   Our tour guide was Troy…and he was a terrific guide. We were off for Muir Woods. Troy had great patter, kept us entertained and informed. After seeing various city sites as well as the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate (painted a garish orange/red?) , we climbed the steep and winding road to Muir Woods. I would not want to drive a car up that road, let alone the small bus! Muir is an amazing place. As I understand it, the local Indian population believed it to be the home of evil spirits. It certainly does have an “other-worldly” feel, and it does seem very spiritual, but I never felt any evil or even slightly naughty-ness….just this truly holy aura, a feeling that makes everyone there whisper….you travel the walkway in awe, looking ever upward to see if these red wood giants ever do stop. They stand in all their glory, in a kind of strength that makes you feel nothing could ever happen to this planet with them holding on. And the air! Sweet and almost spicy scented…as Troy warned us, “you may smell an oddly different smell but do not be frightened. It is what is called ‘fresh air’ and will not harm you!” I kept taking deep, appreciating breaths and wishing I could film it, bottle it, somehow to share it at home. I am sure that many of the pictures I did take on our two mile walk will be keepers….
   After leaving the Woods, we proceeded to Sausalito for lunch. We didn’t have the time to really see that town. By the time we had got our food, I had a hot dog with everything and water, Lar had fish and chips it was nearly time to get back to the bus. We did take the time to have a cone each, I had organic blueberry ice yogurt (live culture) and Lar had caramel macadamia nut ice cream.
   Troy took us on a side trip for a photo op with the Golden Gate as a backdrop. He was kind enough to take our picture there. And then on to the Alcatraz tour.

Borrowing (with credit given) WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE

Glancing through some blogs this morning, I came across one that started with one post that meant a lot to me....having come from a line of teachers, and knowing what teaching meant to them, especially Aunt Mar and Aunt Edna....I have borrowed in order to share.....
the original blog address is as follows:   http://princesspearlz.blogspot.com/
    This morning I am toasting (with my coffee) all the teachers and others who really make a difference.

What Teachers Make (my Singapore Version)
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. " To stress his point he said to another guest, "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty & frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?"

She paused for a second, then began...

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the A+. I make kids sit through 30 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what I make?"

She paused again & looked at each and every person at the table.

"I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize & mean it. I make them have respect & take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write & then I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. I make my students learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand to sing and say the Singapore National Anthem and Pledge to the Flag, because we live in Singapore. Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, & follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

Bonnie paused one last time & then continued.

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high & pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?"

"I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?" "

Patrick's Birthday

Our "baby" is 33 tomorrow! Here is a small glimpse into our life with him so far. Every day has been a blessing.....Happy Birthday, Pat!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Vacation

"We need to travel. If we don't offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don't lift to the horizon; our ears don't hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days. Don't let yourself become one of these people. The fear of the unknown and the lure of the comfortable will conspire to keep you from taking the chances the traveler has to take. But if you take them, you will never regret your choice. To be sure, there will be moments of doubt when you stand alone on an empty road in an icy rain, or when you are ill with fever in a rented bed. But as the pains of the moment will come, so too will they fall away. In the end, you will be so much richer, so much stronger, so much clearer, so much happier, and so much better a person that all the risk and hardship will seem like nothing compared to the knowledge you have gained."

~Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Women, Life and Love

     We have had our "dream vacation" and it was all it could have been, and more!
The first week was something Larry has been wanting to do for many years - share some of California with me....his having been and loving it.  The second week was something we have both wanted to do, dreamed of doing since even before meeting each other.  Hawaii.
  We had a 4AM pick up time (ugh!) and we just gave ourselves up to the flow....after all, you can't fight it once you've committed, and we were both exhausted from work and ready for the left-side life style!
   We flew United and were very happy with it over all.
    The Ford Fusion was rented, we also added on a GPS - our first encounter, and will be going out to buy one this week!  What a super invention.
    From San Francisco Airport, we drove to Half Moon Bay, hoping to find some quaint little coastal/bay side pub or cafe in which to eat lunch and watch the water. 
    We ended up at the Green Leaf Market - a whole foods type of store, sitting outside on the sidewalk, watching the parking lot iin the amazing sun.  I had the best turkey chili - very spicy - with two little French rolls, Lary had a hot homemade turkey meatloaf sandwich on a wheat bun.  And then we set off for a coastal drive.
    All along the way there are State (or Federal?) Park beaches, and for one fee you have access to all of them along the way.  As it was very misty/foggy it was so reminiscent of Scotland, but by 3 the mist had burned off and the views were spectacular.
    Planning at home we'd hoped to make it to Big Sur, but Lar was tiring after the flight and we made it only as far as Pescadero.  We picked up some things like bottled water and snacks in a little general store there and headed back to check in to our hotel.

Over the Hill, and Apparently Sliding Down!

This morning there is not a spot on my body that isn't hurting!  Apparently, yesterday I crested the old age hill and have begun the very slippery slide down the other side.  Hitting every bump along the way.
Some time ago, 7 year old granddaughter Julia requested a visit to the zoo.  It has taken a while, between calendar committments and the weather, but yesterday was custom made...absolutely perfect weather and it was a special day - "Boo at the Zoo."
Julia ate dinner with us, we watched "Harry and the Hendersons" - what a great movie!  We loved it all over again, and Julia fell in love with Harry - just as was intended.

After a bit of a read, our little guest fell asleep and was fresh as a daisy in the morning.  We weren't in bad shape either.....boy did we age in one day!
Julia got dressed as a "Punk Pirate" - cute as a button, and we donned our grandparent suits and we were off.
To a nearby diner first, for breakfast.  As we entered the diner, the hostess and waitpersons went crazy over our little pirate.  One actually asked her to pose for a photo op.  Everyone eating commented as they led us to a far table....giving Julia a chance to show off her adorableness.  It was cute.

After chocolate chip pancakes and a glass of milk, the Pirate was ready to strut her stuff at the as yet unknown location.  We hadn't told her that she would be going to the zoo.

Into the car, - blue skies, gorgeous autumn leaves....sweet air.....
STOP.
Over 2 hours sitting on the Schuykill....just sitting....we'd move one car length and sit more...it's the oldest zoo in the land.....it's an old city....wouldn't you think they could get it right one of these days?  What should have been maybe a 15 minute drive took over 2 hours.
Julia was great....just sat back, never complained.....but she had to put up with her immature, infantile grandparents who were ready to choke somebody!  She had to listen to her grandmother ask "are we there yet?"  Oh, it was awful.   :)
When we finally got to the zoo, we followed "over flow" parking signs until we were back in NJ.  Well, no, not quite, but we had to hoof it over a mile back to the zoo.  Which, considering the magnificence of the day was no biggie.  After all, we'd rested for 2 hours.  Right?
Enter the zoo.
Lar went to the rest room.
Ann went to stand in line.  And stand in line.  And stand in line.  Women have been going to the rest room for as long as we've had rest rooms....not just for 200 years.  Would you think SOMEONE would get that right some time?  There were at least 30 people queing...there were about 6 booths.  And there were squirming, whining little girls - hoping not to ruin their costumes before they got their first candy.  And at least one old lady in the same condition!

But then began the magic of the country's first zoo.  What a gorgeous park!  There were new exhibits, much more relaxed appearing animals, candy stations throughout the park with little ones calling out "trick or treat" and "thank yous" and the ocassional grandparent thankfully accepting a candy too.  What a good time we had.

And then we started the quick slide into old, old, old age.....the over one mile hike back to the car.  To be sure, we didn't know how bad it was until the sounds of crispy, dry, old age muscles began in the evening.  We had a bite to eat and watched a show - and then tried to get up to go to bed.....

"Kids' Book" - Not so much!

It might be 2 years ago that Grandson Larry began to urge me to read "My Brother Sam Is Dead" and I intended, the entire time, to read it.  But every time I would get to the library I'd have forgotten the title.  Finally, a month or so ago, I got it from him again, and actually wrote it down.  Our major library didn't have it, but apparently they bought a copy for me!
It's a Scholastic, Newbery Honor, ALA Notable, and National Book Award Nominee Book.
And I can see why!
This is not a kid's book like any other I've read.  If you (at any age!) would like to delve, fairly briefly, but not too lightly into the life and times of a boy during the American Revolution, check this book out.  It is moving, written with all the attention to detail of any "adult" offering, an easy read, with a great deal of information at the end - fun facts, interviews and timelines. 
Thanks, Larry, for that recommendation!  From now on, anything you recommend I'll read, but be sure to write it down!

Gettin Old

Hmmm, now that I've signed in, I've forgotten what I wanted to write!
Click below to see where I'm going with this!  Thanks Linda - everyone have a .......er, a.......oh, yeah, a great day!
Gettin Old