SUMMER TRIP II - PART A - LONDON

We tried to arrange a taxi to take us to Union Station. Best laid plans..... I thought Charlie was being too frenetic when he called the taxi company at 2 minutes past 8 to find out where they were. Good grief! "The driver's running a bit late" A bit turned out to be at least 20 minutes. Our neighbor, Diane, fortunately for us, was up and drove us to the Gold Line Station. The rest of the ride to the airport was a piece of cake. We're to fly business to London at 12:45 - it's only 10:15 - so I'll add more to the story later. We get free wireless internet in the Red Carpet Club (a perk of flying business). Not sure what Mike has in Cambridge. To be continued.....

HOME FOR A BIT

This has been a relaxing week. I'm amazed at how quickly (fortunately) I can calm down. School had been frenetic this year. The trip to Palo Alto followed by a good week of very little is a real cool down. Saturday, we're off again, but for now, I'm really appreciating the quiet. We bought some English Pounds and some Egyptian pounds for the upcoming trip. I can begin to get excited about it. There's been too much to do before now. FedEx arrived today with the vouchers and tickets. Next Sunday, we'll be in Cambridge with Mike and Maureen! Hurray!

LAST FULL DAY IN PALO ALTO

6 - 24 Thursday. I dropped Charlie off on campus, then continued down Palm Drive. I managed to continue to University Avenue and REDISCOVERED town! How silly. I had remembered California, but that was just a train station. The strange little shops, cafes, and all are here, on University. I found a Walgreens, parked and got what I needed there. Then I stomped up and down the street checking it all out. I found a great little stationary store on Waverly. Lots of good cards and other items of strangeness. I wish Staples and Office Depot hadn't destroyed these kinds of shops near me. After my street circuit - it actually sprinkled on me! - I went back to my parking lot. Notice, I now own it. Parked the car and walked back toward the center of campus. I stopped for a sunny read at a cafe (the Olives) awful coffee but lovely patio. Then trudged back to the bookstore. More reading. I've forgotten how calming this can be. Met Liza and we walked to the Business Schools salad bar. Nice lunch. Nice chat. I'm glad she's here. We haven't had a chance to talk in a long time.

Back to the hotel. More reading. Charlie called for a pick up around 5. We stopped for a coffee at the Stanford mall. Kind of a lot of coffee today. Back to the room - a quick spruce up - then to MacArthur Park Restaurant for the banquet. Ribs? unlikely banquet food. We sat with Charlie's post doc- Harsha. Maybe next summer - monsoon or not - we'll go to Southern India. It's where Harsha is from. Sounds adventurous.

6 - 25 Friday. Quiet morning. More later on.......

PALO ALTO - TRIP 1 FOR THE SUMMER

6 - 22 - 10 Charlie and I drove up to Palo Alto yesterday. Given that it was a Tuesday afternoon, it was an incredibly easy trip. Glenn graduated 11 years ago, and we haven't really come to town since then. Ian and Sarah moved to Hayward at least 4 years ago, so we haven't even taken the Pacheco Pass either. Lots of things look the same, it was just hard to remember. We're staying at the Creekside Inn, another step into the past. It's still lovely. We have a first floor room by the creek. Quiet, relaxing, just the ticket for our first get-away.

6 - 23 - 10 Charlie had to be up early to get to his meeting on the Stanford campus by 8. We had coffee and croissants in the lounge. Another thing I forgot - this area has great coffee everywhere. I drove Charlie to the "loop drive" and let him off. I was to meet Liza at noon at the book store, but I had to make sure I knew how to get there and where to park. I eventually found the bookstore, but all the parking there was blocked for today. ? I drove in silly lost circles for a bit - as I said - it's been a while. I finally followed signs to a " visitors information" booth, parked my car, paid for parking, only to find the booth was closed. I still had lots of parking time so I set out on foot. I found a nice person who worked at the alumni center. They gave me a map, and off I walked. I got back to the bookstore and bought a computer case for me and a computer sleeve for Chuck. I decided to put the items in my car to save slogging around with them. I, naturally, got a bit lost but eventually - thanks to my maps - found the car. I then bought running shorts for me and Chuck. My pathetic joke - they fit - I just don't look fit. Then back to the bookstore to find Liza. I was early, so I read my book in the great upstairs cafe. At noon I found Liza, and she and I walked over to the new graduate dorms. Got a chicken and some veggies. Sat and talked. Liza had to be back at work at 1. I walked back to the car again. I probably won't run here, but I'm stepping up a storm. I did find out the reason the campus was so anti parking was that the Russian President Medeyev? was speaking on campus this afternoon. I hope I can get Charlie without a hitch.

I attempted to find a drug store - no mean trick. The center of Palo Alto was shut down too - Mendeyev again??? The closer shopping center to the hotel Stanford Square? really doesn't have any real stores at all - banks only. The Stanford Shopping Center is too upscale for a measly drug store. I eventually drove south on El Camino and found a CVS. Now Chuck has tooth paste for this evening. Back to the hotel for a rest, and some admiring looks at my new computer case. It's great!

Til tomorrow.

THREE LITTLE BIRDS

Every evening before Charlie and I go to bed we take Wally outside for a last pee. Our fruit trees are beginning to produce lots of fruit (two Santa Rosa plum trees - my all time favorites - and an apricot tree). I decided to explore in the dark and see how they were doing. I was shining my flashlight up and saw three little sleeping birds. See the photo.

THINGS ARE FINALLY CALMING DOWN

There are only two weeks left of school. I really am amazed how quickly these final weeks came. It seemed like I was snowed under for months - I was. When the AP kids took their exam (May 10) I expected a lull. It didn't happen. I had been involved with the union as a representative, and the state of California inconveniently ran out of money. Most of the rep meetings were excessively long and depressing. What can you say when there's no money to be had? The math class that I've been teaching this year continued to require a lot of work. And, of course, the Honors Physics class really never stops until the very end. I somehow imagined a little down time, but I never got any. Memorial Day week-end began with Geoffrey. I thought he would come for a short week. It actually was a long week. Last night we went to David Bowman's birthday party (He's Charlie's old grad student who's now a professor at Fullerton). We gave Dave a pedometer and left Geoffrey with him as a follow up gift.

Last week was typical of the chaotic times. Tuesday was the last faculty meeting of the year. So after a somewhat quiet week-end, I had to get to school at 7 am. That always knocks me out. Then Wednesday was Open House. Although those meetings are positive for me, they make me hopped up like a three year old. Since I was already tired, I was beginning to really drag by Thursday. I had a lot of grading on Thursday. Friday, much to my delight, I won an honor. There was an assembly for the Hartsough award. At the assembly the students give a few awards beyond the main one. I won The Teacher Outreach Award. I was touched, not only by the surprise, but how kind the kids were congratulating me afterwards. Friday evening was the TASP (union) dinner. It's now Sunday, and I can begin to see a bit of calm in the distance. I hope so, anyway.

Calm in the midst of the storm?

The AP class is almost done with the academic portion. The students had the first part of their final last Tuesday. Tomorrow is the second half. (Multiple choice, followed by tomorrow's written portion). Monday, May 10th, will be the AP exam itself. Their first treat after the AP is a chance to relax and watch "Armageddon" - the world's silliest movie. It it both enjoyable and ridiculous. I picked it because the physics in it is truly absurd. What a great way to end a tough academic slough!

Unfortunately, this spring has had so many interruptions, it's been hard to get through much of anything. The "Virtual Business" class had a week in New York, the band had at least two trips to the San Francisco area, the sports teams keep leaving (earlier now that they're in the play-offs). I'm leaving out day trips - an APES field trip to somewhere (an un-environmental field???), an AP English trip to the LA library, other AP exams, State exams, assemblies, illnesses - I'm sure there were other things. The end result was that I feel that the last section of AP Physics really didn't get covered was well as it should. Sigh. The next two days, I'll be at school so that the students can do their make-ups for the final. My goal is that all of them finish all of their exams BEFORE the AP itself. Here goes nothing! It's like herding cats.