I REALLY LIKE RAIN BUT.....

We got back from San Francisco on Sunday afternoon.  It was a rainy drive pretty much all the way south. We left San Francisco in a downpour.  The central valley wasn't too bad, but the drive over the Grapevine into LA was teeming again.  Raining hard enough that cars and trucks were making their own misty clouds.  Really not pleasant driving.  We picked Wally up.  After three days playing with horses, a sheep, and other dogs in the rain, he smelled horribly.  He wasn't exactly an example of pristine dog-dom when I dropped him off on Thursday.  The days on the farm in the rain turned him into something worse than a park vagabond.  Miracle of miracles - Pat's Pet Grooming was open on Monday (because of the Christmas Holiday) - so Wally got his bath and a trim.  He looks a lot better - and smells like a dog rather than horse pee and whatever....

The rain was light during the day today, but tonight it's started up again.  Our pool is up to the brim, the trashcans are full of water.  At least, so far, our house hasn't leaked.  This is the first rainstorm in as many years that I can think of where some room or another hasn't had a leak.

We've had fires in the fire places today - lovely and cozy.

Cosmetic bags coming out of my ears!

Last October, when we came back from our trip to Paris, I noticed that my favorite travel-cosmetic bag was falling apart.  I had bought it years ago at a Crabtree and Evelyn store (it was a Vera Bradley round bag).  I looked around for a replacement, and finally settled on the Vera Bradley web site.  I basically bought it's clone.  That was at the end of October.  This evening when I was fiddling around on my computer, I checked my email.  Good grief!  Vera Bradley had notified me that they had shipped a cosmetic bag.  Whoa!  They had sent the "bill" and the shipment notification.  I called customer service and told them my cosmetic bag tale.  After my explanation, the lady on the phone said, "hold on a second".  She then left me listening to music for a bit.  "I just spoke to my supervisor," she told me, "when the bag comes, accept it as our gift - Merry Christmas!"  Now I have 2 clones!  This is getting to be like the Sorcerer's Apprentice - Dum, Dum, Deedle-dee dum, dee dum dee dum ......

A GREAT PHOTO

A couple of week ends ago, Ian, Sarah, Sean, and Harriet came to visit.  Actually, they stopped by on their way down to San Diego to go to a wedding.   Sarah's brother, John was getting married.  Since the trip from Hayward to San Diego is very long, they asked if they could stop on Friday for the night.  They'd then go onto San Diego Saturday morning.  On Saturday evening they'd stop again, and finish the trip to Hayward Sunday morning.  Except for the late stops (Friday especially), the whole thing went very well.

Harriet, who is four, really likes princesses.  On Saturday morning, before the wedding, we asked if John's bride was a princess.  She wasn't sure.  We suggested that princesses wear beautiful gowns, have tiaras, and wed princes.  They then drove off to the wedding.  On Sunday morning, we asked Harriet if the bride was a princess.  Harriet said, "She was!"

Sean really dislikes getting his picture taken.  For the past couple of years it's been very difficult to get him in a photo.  He dives below chairs, pulls his hoodie up, or puts on such a strange expression, you really can't tell it's Sean.  The week-end they came to visit, I pointed out that we had pictures of everybody else in the family except Ian.  This was true.  We've got a great photo of Sarah and Harriet, a cute photo of Charlie, Kayley and me, another great photo of Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley, and one of Charlie and Sean.  Somehow, Sean decided this was a photo that we needed.  In the end, he actually reminded us to take the photo just before they left for home.  I've attached the picture.  It really is a great shot of Sean - he looks just like this!

ALMOST HALLOWEEN!

I just noticed that I've been blogging for a year.  It doesn't feel that long....

 Charlie and I have a quiet week-end for the first time in several weeks.  Monday, Chuck is on his way to Denver for a quick conference.  He'll be back on Wednesday.  I plan to spend a few weeks not traveling.  As much as I like trekking about, it's nice to have some quiet time in-between.

Tomorrow's Halloween.  We never get many kids here.  A neighbor a few houses away has two small children, Dante and Molly.  Those two and a loyal Hispanic family are about the only ones who trick or treat on our street.  We saw Dante and his dad the other day and asked him what kind of candy he liked.  He told us that he really liked candy corns.  Since he is almost our only customer, we bought him (and his sister) a special candy-corn bag.  We also have a huge bag of regular trick-or-treat sized candies.  When our loyal Hispanic family shows up - they'll get handfuls of those.  That way Charlie and I can avoid 2 pounds of candy (we'll just have 1 pound left)

The Caribbean Amphibian

Yesterday, after school, Charlie and I drove up to Hayward.  We always stay in a Quality Inn in Castro Valley.  A very odd place to feel like home, but we've been coming up here since Ian and Sarah moved to Hayward - and have stayed here for at least 3 or 4 years.

Today was the reason for the drive - the Caribbean Amphibian dance.  Harriet and her friend were to be in a recital.  She  has been learning tap and ballet through a program at her nursery school.  The dance teachers, however, come from a dance school that really is quite serious about getting kids into the "business".  The recital wasn't just a pack of 4 year olds dancing their little hearts out.  Most of the recital (the program had 8 pages filled with all the dances for the day!!) were students who were rather advanced.  The program broke into three sets of dance types - tap (which were quite enjoyable), non-en-pointe ballet (which I have never been a huge fan of - lots of sad music, flowing raggedy gowns, and floor moves), and hip-hop (which I found I quite enjoyed - knock me out!).  There were a few numbers for the youngest dancers.  Harriet and her partner were in the second half of the show - they were a real hit!  One group in the first half - semi-dancing to a number I believe was called "Lucy Ladybug" seemed too traumatic for one member of the troupe.  She stood on stage and bawled her eyes out the entire number.  We went out for a great Chinese dinner tonight for a celebration.  Our little dancer - frog lady - was so exhausted she actually fell off her chair.

We drive home tomorrow.  Photos above

WE MADE A GOOD DECISION

Yesterday evening while talking to Geoff he told us about a poisonous taxi trip from Gare Du Nord.  It took him two hours during the last transportation strike.  So many people needed to get around, that they all went into taxis.  But the streets of Paris really can't handle that kind of upsurge in vehicles.  The result was complete grid lock.  When we went to bed, I kept thinking about the fact that the strike is building up steam.  I had images of us getting to the station (Gare du Nord) and discovering that the trains weren't going to go.  Then getting into a taxi and as the hours rolled by, we'd be trapped in a feeble attempt to make it to Charles de Gaul airport, and never getting to our flight.  That's when I had a brilliant idea - we'd go to the airport and stay the night in an airport hotel.  Every major airport in the world has a small bevy of service hotels near the airport for people who have flights out at dawn (or are in the throws of some awful strike).  We got on line this morning and found the Park Inn.  Less than 5 km from Charles de Gaul!  We now don't have to worry.  There's a shuttle from here every 15 minutes, and if that goes out, the taxis cost less than 20 euros.  All will be well.
We got up late this morning (all my nighttime plotting kept us up to the wee hours).  It was drizzling rain, but we wandered over to another cafe for a cafe creme and a croissant.  Back to Geoff's for some relaxing.  Then around 12:30 we wandered out to another cafe for a lunch.  Maude came over to talk science with Geoff and Charlie.  By 5 we went out to the RER for our little jump from Chatelet Les Halles to Gare du Nord.  We literally couldn't get into the first train to Gare du Nord.  A guy came along and actually stuffed people's arms into the cars so the doors would close.  The second train, mercifully came along more quickly and we got to Gare du Nord in apparent luxury.  Our second trip was a little more like a trip to Dachau.  The platform was literally filled with people by the time the train showed up.  We were "fortunate" to get on somewhat early and found a place to stand with our suit cases near the back of some seats (no one in front of us).  The car filled to the brim with people.  The train people had to convince a fellow to get off the train car because the door wouldn't close properly.  One woman in the middle of the mob began to say "Je suis malade, je suis malade!" (I'm sick) and the let her off the train.  I began to think "je suis malade aussi!!, but I honestly couldn't have made it out the door from where I was squashed.  The Indians in Mumbai sit on the roof of the trains, that sounded pretty good too!  Once the train finally started - the wait seemed to last an eternity - the air from an open window kept me from really becoming "malade"!  We got to terminal 2 - Charles de Gaul about 6:30.  When we passed a station called "Les expositions"  the crowd waiting for the train to Paris was incredible.  There must have been at least 1000 people squashed on the platform.  Clearly another trip from hell for those lucky folks.  Our hotel is lovely.  We're here!  We're close to the airport!  All's right with the world.  A quick aside.  Geoff's newly minted PhD, Maude, was excited to get back to the strikers on the streets of Paris this afternoon.  It seemed like a looming party to her.  If I hadn't needed to get on a plane tomorrow, it might have seemed like a party to me too.

MONDAY - WALK TO THE LOUVRE

Charlie and Geoff went to the university in the morning after a lovely cafe-creme and a croissant.  They went off in one direction and I plodded off in the other.  I took lots of photos - see attached - and then went to the Louvre.  I hadn't been there in years, and hadn't spent enough time the last time I was there.  Since I had the whole day, it was a great, trip.  I had lunch there.  Then, in a Brownian-walk kind of way, met Charlie and Geoff after the student's PhD exam - the reason for this trip in the first place.  Maude is very nice, and did very well.  We tried Chestnut wine.  I think I'll stick to the regular grape kind in future.  We had a late night Thai dinner snack.  Today, Tuesday, our last full day here.  Tomorrow after many hours - back to LA.  Will the strike get us?  Not really.  We plan on spending tonight close to the airport to avoid any city stoppages.

WE'RE IN PARIS

France, that is.  We began our journey at 4:15 this morning first with a flight to Dulles (Washington, DC) then on to Charles D'Gaul in Paris.  There's a transportation strike here.  At the moment it means that we had to take a train from the airport to Gare du Nord, then another train to Chatelet des Halle (one more stop beyond).  Silly really.  The more exciting piece of the strike is that the strikers have stopped a gasoline pipeline to the airport.  We've heard tell there's only enough for 10 days more air travel.  Fortunately, we should escape before they run out..... or will we????  It does add some excitement at any rate.  Tomorrow Charlie will spend the day at the University.  The student's oral exam is tomorrow afternoon.  I have the day to myself - wandering seems just right.  I'll bring my camera for better updates.

Summer's over, ALREADY????

Tomorrow is the first day for teachers. We'll meet as a faculty in the morning, then we'll have department issues in the afternoon.  Monday, school starts for real - kids and all.  I, clearly, am not ready!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRIP FOR SEAN!

On Friday, August 20th, we drove up the 5 freeway to Hayward.  It was my grandson Sean's 8th birthday. His first choice for dinner on his birthday was Round Table Pizza.  We ate at the Round Table after we gave out our presents 1.) for both Sean and Harriet's birthdays (hers is September 5th) and 2.) from our wanderings during the summer.

The next morning, we ate breakfast at Ian and Sarah's, then drove to Alameda to take the ferry to San Francisco.  Sean had worked out all the details of his birthday celebration.  It was a wonderful plan.  I had never really thought of taking the ferry across the bay before, but it's the greatest way to travel to San Francisco.  The ferry goes from Alameda, then Oakland, then to the ferry building in San Francisco at the end of Market Street, then to Pier 41 (near Fisherman's Wharf), where we got off.  Our next stop was the Rainforest Cafe. Animatronic animals, huge tanks of tropical fish, a "thunder and lightning storm" every half hour.  It was really a load of fun - kind of Disney goes to a restaurant.  Harriet, who's 4, announced "We're really under water".  After lunch we went to the Aquarium at Pier 39.   A very nice little aquarium with lots of sharks, jelly fish, huge Pacific Bass, and a tank of anchovies.  Again, lots of fun.  We stopped at my favorite sock store on Pier 39, then back to the ferry.  The ride over to San Francisco was a bit foggy and cool.  The ride back to Alameda was gorgeous - sunny and clear.  The ferry went to Angel Island before heading back to Alameda.  That night we had a rib dinner at the Texas Road House.  All in all a great day!

We drove home this morning along with about half the population of the state, or so it appeared.  We managed to get by a burnt out pick up truck, a grass fire (caused by an upturned carrot big rig), and a dramatic crash.  Other than slowing down - we're fine.  Here's some photos.

A DAY IN VANCOUVER

Glenn had to work on Thursday, so Charlie, Krysty, Kayley and I spent the morning together at the park.  As you can see from the photos, she had a great time - so did we all.  When she went back home for her nap in the afternoon, Charlie and I went for a small Vancouver excursion.  Gas town (with its steam clock that was only burping steam - no tricks) and Granville Market.  We actually went to Granville Market for dinner fixings.  The vegetables and fruits on sale there are fantastic - they tasted good too.  Here's the day's photos: 

A TRIP TO BUCHART GARDENS AND A FERRY BACK TO VANCOUVER - TUESDAY

We had a relaxing drive away from Victoria, and headed out to Buchart Gardens.  Wonderful place, loads of amazing flowers.  Varieties that I've heard of but not the size or color that they had.  We wandered around and saw most of the major sections.  Then off to the ferry and came back to Vancouver.  Here's some photos.

SUNDAY - VICTORIA

We took the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria.  Kind of a grizzly day, but the skies cleared as we got near Vancouver Island.  The hotel room (a suite) was fantastic.  Really a great way to travel if your plans involve a 1 year old.  It was bright, airy, had great views, AND was comfortable for 5 of us.  We took strolls around the harbor and hung around.  Very relaxing.  Here's some more photos.

WE ARRIVE IN VANCOUVER - SATURDAY

I'm doing a bit of catch up blogging.  We got to Vancouver on Saturday.  We got upgraded on the flight to first class.  That sounds a lot snazzier than it turned out to be.  There were only 6 seats, no meals, no toilet for us - but the seats were very comfy!  Kayley had her one year old baby shots (MMR DPT and a whole host of other letters) that really whacked her.  She was better on Saturday, but that was only relative because she'd been really feverish. We brought her some presents, a terrifying (apparently) cell phone that would ring when it was closed, and a "stew pot" with a spoon, "salt shaker", and foam vegetables that became a real hit.  Here's some photos.

LAST DAY IN MIAMI

We began the day with a walk on the board walk and a little swim.  Not as warm as yesterday, but still remarkably warm for 9 am.  We then took a taxi and wandered around a little on the Southern tip of Miami Beach "South Beach".  It's a weird combination of art deco, "absolutely fabulous", and bums.  We had a ridiculously expensive - AWFUL - lunch.  Went back to the hotel, and on our way back to the airport hotel, we drove through Coral Gables (fancy homes), Coconut Grove (funky arty area - less now than apparently the '60s), and Little Havana (not too much different than East LA - except for the cigar shops and the Free Cuba signs).  Here's the last of our photos.  Tomorrow we'll be home.  Until then....