hangover update...
I almost blew it. I had drinks with Nell Anne and we went to sushi last night. Then we came home and had a few more drinks. I didn't feel great this morning. I didn't feel destroyed, but I didn't feel...let's say, well rested. It could be because I didn't get to sleep until almost 4am. It could be because I had a kink in my neck from sleeping wrong the previous night and had taken some vicodin. I got up, took some excedrin migraine and took on the day. It got better quickly, so I think I am still in the safe zone.
Rock-n-Roll Japanese Bistro on Canyon Rd. has the best sushi! Go there!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I survived the boy scout grand prix pinewood derby races tonight! Joaquin got second place (in his heat of three) in the race with the car that he and Joseph threw together in an hour before the race. Way to go guys!
In my defense, I only became aware of the event yesterday, so we were working with very little lead time to begin with. The best part is that Joaquin was happy. A boy and his car. It all starts here.
In my defense, I only became aware of the event yesterday, so we were working with very little lead time to begin with. The best part is that Joaquin was happy. A boy and his car. It all starts here.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
23 days with no hangovers and still going!!! 23 days of awakening clear-headed, without nausea, and pain-free. I got very close to the edge Friday night, but I proved that it is possible to have fun, drink, and keep myself from crossing that delicate line that can needlessly cost me a day of my life. I keep the photo above to remind me of the unfortunate evening of Dec. 31st, the night that led me to take up this worthy challenge.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
If I only got this much done at the office... With the exception of Friday night, I worked my butt off this weekend.
Saturday
8:30am - met with some moms at Kodi's Coffee Shop regarding Girl Scouts (I may be on the line for some participation in forming a troop at the school and somehow got roped into serving food at the Multicultural Fair next week)
9:30-10:30am - took cans and bottles back to the store, went to Miller Paint to get living room paint
10:30am - met Jen at my house where she helped me paint the living room
2:30pm - Jen had to go, I went to Nell's to get metal rack which Clint couldn't cut and then went back to the paint store for another gallon of paint
3:30pm - back home to painting the living room
7:00pm - made some dinner and finished sanding and caulking wainscotting in the dining room
9:00 pm - started to paint my bedroom which required a coat of primer first as the walls were so dark. I finished at 4:00am.
Sunday
I slept from 4:30-10:30 am on Sunday morning.
10:30am - 5:00pm - got up and painted wainscotting in the dining room and the base trim, touched up paint in my room, put up artwork and changed the curtains in my room, got a load of stuff for the Goodwill in my car
5:00-8:00pm - went to run some errands. I had many exchanges and returns to make at different places that had been piling up. These are the places I went in 3 hours:
Goodwill
The Apple Store - my replacement ipod was in - YAY!
The Container Store - exchanged an item
Circuit City - returned an item
Taget - returned various items
Meier and Frank - exchanged an item
Winco - grocery shopping
...and I was on time to pick up my kids from Jorge in Jantzen Beach at 8:00pm.
Whew! Just recounting it makes me tired. I think I've done enough crap this weekend to take the next month of weekends for relaxing (maybe cash in on that spa weekend). I am pretty happy though sitting in bed in my bedroom and seeing the walls that now match my bedding and the curtains and the artwork is up. I am enjoying the fruits of my labor. No more navy blue walls in here.
Saturday
8:30am - met with some moms at Kodi's Coffee Shop regarding Girl Scouts (I may be on the line for some participation in forming a troop at the school and somehow got roped into serving food at the Multicultural Fair next week)
9:30-10:30am - took cans and bottles back to the store, went to Miller Paint to get living room paint
10:30am - met Jen at my house where she helped me paint the living room
2:30pm - Jen had to go, I went to Nell's to get metal rack which Clint couldn't cut and then went back to the paint store for another gallon of paint
3:30pm - back home to painting the living room
7:00pm - made some dinner and finished sanding and caulking wainscotting in the dining room
9:00 pm - started to paint my bedroom which required a coat of primer first as the walls were so dark. I finished at 4:00am.
Sunday
I slept from 4:30-10:30 am on Sunday morning.
10:30am - 5:00pm - got up and painted wainscotting in the dining room and the base trim, touched up paint in my room, put up artwork and changed the curtains in my room, got a load of stuff for the Goodwill in my car
5:00-8:00pm - went to run some errands. I had many exchanges and returns to make at different places that had been piling up. These are the places I went in 3 hours:
Goodwill
The Apple Store - my replacement ipod was in - YAY!
The Container Store - exchanged an item
Circuit City - returned an item
Taget - returned various items
Meier and Frank - exchanged an item
Winco - grocery shopping
...and I was on time to pick up my kids from Jorge in Jantzen Beach at 8:00pm.
Whew! Just recounting it makes me tired. I think I've done enough crap this weekend to take the next month of weekends for relaxing (maybe cash in on that spa weekend). I am pretty happy though sitting in bed in my bedroom and seeing the walls that now match my bedding and the curtains and the artwork is up. I am enjoying the fruits of my labor. No more navy blue walls in here.
I don't make bets (casino gambling doesn't count) unless I know I'm going to win - just ask CRM (sorry buddy).
I made a bet with Cristie's new friend, Julio aka "Jules". We all went out to sushi Friday evening and at one point began discussing Belize. I don't know exactly why or how it came about, but all of a sudden Jules (he was hammered) and I began debating whether Belize was an independent country or not. I took the (correct) position that it is an independent country. Jules was VERY sure that it wasn't. He kept saying that "there are 6 countries in Central America" and then we were naming them: Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala...we had forgotten Nicaragua. Well, once we remembered Nicaragua, he was REALLY sure he was right. "There are six countries - only 6!" Obviously we weren't going to be able to determine who was right at that moment, so it turned into... YA WANNA BET?? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BET? I thought quickly and said, "A weekend of spa treatments for Cristie and I." "WOO-HOO!"she shouted. "What do I get if I'm right?" he asked, and then answered himself, "Ok, I want the same thing." "WOO-HOO!" Cristie shouted again.
Saturday I ran by Nell Anne's to pick up a metal rack that Clint was cutting for me. Jules and Cristie showed up as they were headed to Seaside with Nell and Clint. Jules walks in and says, "Ok, where do you want to go? I looked it up this morning and apparently Belize was recognized as a country in 1991 . I spent all morning cursing the British and the Guatemalans. First I was cursing the British for letting it go as a territory, and then the Guatemalans for recognizing it as a sovereign nation in 1991."
It had been drilled into his head in school that there were 6 countries in Central America and at the time he learned it, it was true. He made it sound like it was some sort of new development. "Jules," I said, "That was 15 years ago." "Yeah, I know," he said.
So now we have to decide where we are going. He is pretty adamant about fulfilling his end of the deal. Cristie and I are thinking about where we would like to go. Aequis is nice, or Skamania Lodge or the Bonneville Hot Springs and Resort. We'll have to think about it a little. Whether the goal is to avoid drinking an appletini or to get pampered at a spa, if I don't know what I am talking about, I may insist that I am right, but I will not make a bet. Losing sucks.
I made a bet with Cristie's new friend, Julio aka "Jules". We all went out to sushi Friday evening and at one point began discussing Belize. I don't know exactly why or how it came about, but all of a sudden Jules (he was hammered) and I began debating whether Belize was an independent country or not. I took the (correct) position that it is an independent country. Jules was VERY sure that it wasn't. He kept saying that "there are 6 countries in Central America" and then we were naming them: Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala...we had forgotten Nicaragua. Well, once we remembered Nicaragua, he was REALLY sure he was right. "There are six countries - only 6!" Obviously we weren't going to be able to determine who was right at that moment, so it turned into... YA WANNA BET?? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BET? I thought quickly and said, "A weekend of spa treatments for Cristie and I." "WOO-HOO!"she shouted. "What do I get if I'm right?" he asked, and then answered himself, "Ok, I want the same thing." "WOO-HOO!" Cristie shouted again.
Saturday I ran by Nell Anne's to pick up a metal rack that Clint was cutting for me. Jules and Cristie showed up as they were headed to Seaside with Nell and Clint. Jules walks in and says, "Ok, where do you want to go? I looked it up this morning and apparently Belize was recognized as a country in 1991 . I spent all morning cursing the British and the Guatemalans. First I was cursing the British for letting it go as a territory, and then the Guatemalans for recognizing it as a sovereign nation in 1991."
It had been drilled into his head in school that there were 6 countries in Central America and at the time he learned it, it was true. He made it sound like it was some sort of new development. "Jules," I said, "That was 15 years ago." "Yeah, I know," he said.
So now we have to decide where we are going. He is pretty adamant about fulfilling his end of the deal. Cristie and I are thinking about where we would like to go. Aequis is nice, or Skamania Lodge or the Bonneville Hot Springs and Resort. We'll have to think about it a little. Whether the goal is to avoid drinking an appletini or to get pampered at a spa, if I don't know what I am talking about, I may insist that I am right, but I will not make a bet. Losing sucks.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
I carried out a threat today.
I am the queen of threats with my kids. Very bad, I know, but I have found that in discipline, a certain level of fear seems to work with my kids, as it did with me when I was a kid. We were planning on going to family swim at the gym tonight after dinner, but after many warnings and "just one more chance, Mom...pahleeze?" (They blew that chance too), I decided that enough was enough and that I wasn't about to take two bickering children that were having a hard day following directions to the gym. Needless to say, they were stunned that they weren't going swimming after they already had their swimsuits on. However, I'm pretty sure that the next time we plan on going swimming, I will be getting an entirely different level of cooperation from them.
It was especially hard to stick to my decision after they each offered up their individual very sincere apologies. It's tough to be Mom sometimes.
I am the queen of threats with my kids. Very bad, I know, but I have found that in discipline, a certain level of fear seems to work with my kids, as it did with me when I was a kid. We were planning on going to family swim at the gym tonight after dinner, but after many warnings and "just one more chance, Mom...pahleeze?" (They blew that chance too), I decided that enough was enough and that I wasn't about to take two bickering children that were having a hard day following directions to the gym. Needless to say, they were stunned that they weren't going swimming after they already had their swimsuits on. However, I'm pretty sure that the next time we plan on going swimming, I will be getting an entirely different level of cooperation from them.
It was especially hard to stick to my decision after they each offered up their individual very sincere apologies. It's tough to be Mom sometimes.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Ok, I am starting to scare myself with all of the projects that I have started working on.
The Kids
I have the kids signed up for after school classes through spring break on Tue/Wed/Thur until 5:30pm at the school. They will be taking classes, such as martial arts, mad science club, spanish class, scrapbooking, and homework time, so I don't have to leave work early to go pick them up at 2:00. I've also finally gotten them signed up for swimming lessons again, so I am getting organized on that front. I only have riding lessons and boy scouts to get in and I will be good. I am also working on a sewing project with the kids. They decided that they wanted to learn to sew (mainly Lily) so we went to the fabric store this weekend and they picked out some fleece and they are going to be making pillows and scarves.
My Health
I have begun going to the gym again regularly and also following the weight watchers points plan again (I lost 52 lbs when I did it in 2004). Aside from the incredible urge to listen to the entire Jet-Get Born album everytime I am on the elliptical machine that I must fight, things have been going very smoothly. I haven't shown this much interest/motivation since I did this from Jan-July 2004.
Household projects
I am simultaneously working on finishing the wainscotting in the dining room, choosing a paint color for the living room (I believe it will be Filbert from the Devine paints), and determining how many coats of paint it will require to conceal the dark almost navy blue color of my bedroom (between 2 and 3) with the new color (Hazelnut from Devine). I am also doing some sewing. I have been making some duvet covers for the down comforters on Joaquin's bunk beds and getting up the nerve to try some pillowcases. I will probably wait until Nell Anne can be nearby in case of an emergency.
The Finances
Nell Anne is coming over tonight and we are going to start the process of organizing our finances. I am going to help her set up online banking and we are going to try to get ourselves focused on figuring out where we are at financially, how to cut expenses and to try to exercise a bit of self control. Yes, I said it, SELF-CONTROL. It's possible. We've both already cut out much of the eating out and cocktails. We can do that at each other's homes much more cheaply.
Pretty good for a girl who's only official New Year's resolution is - no hangovers in 2006.
The Kids
I have the kids signed up for after school classes through spring break on Tue/Wed/Thur until 5:30pm at the school. They will be taking classes, such as martial arts, mad science club, spanish class, scrapbooking, and homework time, so I don't have to leave work early to go pick them up at 2:00. I've also finally gotten them signed up for swimming lessons again, so I am getting organized on that front. I only have riding lessons and boy scouts to get in and I will be good. I am also working on a sewing project with the kids. They decided that they wanted to learn to sew (mainly Lily) so we went to the fabric store this weekend and they picked out some fleece and they are going to be making pillows and scarves.
My Health
I have begun going to the gym again regularly and also following the weight watchers points plan again (I lost 52 lbs when I did it in 2004). Aside from the incredible urge to listen to the entire Jet-Get Born album everytime I am on the elliptical machine that I must fight, things have been going very smoothly. I haven't shown this much interest/motivation since I did this from Jan-July 2004.
Household projects
I am simultaneously working on finishing the wainscotting in the dining room, choosing a paint color for the living room (I believe it will be Filbert from the Devine paints), and determining how many coats of paint it will require to conceal the dark almost navy blue color of my bedroom (between 2 and 3) with the new color (Hazelnut from Devine). I am also doing some sewing. I have been making some duvet covers for the down comforters on Joaquin's bunk beds and getting up the nerve to try some pillowcases. I will probably wait until Nell Anne can be nearby in case of an emergency.
The Finances
Nell Anne is coming over tonight and we are going to start the process of organizing our finances. I am going to help her set up online banking and we are going to try to get ourselves focused on figuring out where we are at financially, how to cut expenses and to try to exercise a bit of self control. Yes, I said it, SELF-CONTROL. It's possible. We've both already cut out much of the eating out and cocktails. We can do that at each other's homes much more cheaply.
Pretty good for a girl who's only official New Year's resolution is - no hangovers in 2006.
Friday, January 13, 2006
I went on a field trip this morning with my kids and their classrooms to see a production of Charlotte's Web at the Keller Auditorium. It was a very nice production of a beautiful story of friendship.
I was wondering though as I was sitting there watching, WHY - when Charlotte is the one doing the amazing things (i.e. writing "some pig" "radiant" and "humble" in her web) is everyone proclaiming that Wilbur (who honestly, does nothing remarkable and is, in actuality, a bit of a simpleton) is such an amazing animal. This story really makes no sense.
If I was to put my hard core feminist hat on, I could probably draw some correlations between the story and the fact that many times it is women who are doing the "real" work while men getting the credit for that work.
There's something there, I think.
I was wondering though as I was sitting there watching, WHY - when Charlotte is the one doing the amazing things (i.e. writing "some pig" "radiant" and "humble" in her web) is everyone proclaiming that Wilbur (who honestly, does nothing remarkable and is, in actuality, a bit of a simpleton) is such an amazing animal. This story really makes no sense.
If I was to put my hard core feminist hat on, I could probably draw some correlations between the story and the fact that many times it is women who are doing the "real" work while men getting the credit for that work.
There's something there, I think.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
I found a new reason to love my Bally's membership. I have been paying for myself and child care for the kids and not using it. I called tonight to see if the Bally's on Beav-Hills Hwy had swimming lessons for kids. They are working on getting them set up, but I did find out that there are various times that they have family swim and that I can take the kids for free. I hadn't thought of that before, so the kids and I rushed through dinner to go get a swim in tonight and we didn't have to pay $10 like we would have had to at the community center.
And we pracitcally had the pool to ourselves.
And...I got to soak in the hot tub while the kids splashed around in the pool. It doesn't get better than that.
And we pracitcally had the pool to ourselves.
And...I got to soak in the hot tub while the kids splashed around in the pool. It doesn't get better than that.
Friday, January 06, 2006
I have a little problem involving Santa Claus. My kids got home from Mexico yesterday where they spent the holidays. The first thing I get is, "What did Santa bring us?" Oops. I was so delayed getting back from my trip, that "Santa" didn't have time to set anything up, so now I am reduced to making up excuses for Santa and trying to explain his delay in bringing presents.
Is an 8 yr. old ready for the truth?
Is an 8 yr. old ready for the truth?
Thursday, January 05, 2006
...an excerpt of life on the ROAD - part one
Day 1 - Since my kids are off in Mexico with their dad, Joseph and I headed out on a road trip this week to see what we could see. Before we took off on Christmas day we first had the task of cleaning out my car for the journey. The kids had left the most disgusting stuff in the car and as we were cleaning out the back of my car and finding food mixed with change and toys and all sorts of nastiness, I was resolved to setting up some new rules when the kids get back about what will be acceptable in the car. It was pretty nasty. We'll see if I can stick to my guns when they get back. We headed south and got as far as Coos Bay. We stayed there for the night and went off roading on the beach the next morning to find the wreckage of the New Carissa before we continued on down Hwy 101.
Day 2 - We headed down the Oregon coast and into California to the Redwood forest. This part of the trip was special for me as I was born in Humboldt county and lived there until I finished kindergarten. The sight of the sequoias is overwhelming. To see a tree and know that it has been there for 1,000 and some for more than 5,000 years is a reminder of the insignificant blip that is my life by comparison. It's kind of a religious experience. Although I have been accused of being a tree hugger in the past, there has never been any convincing proof until now.
I was especially excited about sharing the beauty of northern California with Joseph as he had never experienced it. Needless to say, he was impressed.
We arrived in Eureka, my hometown, to find that it has grown enormously. It has everything. The little coastal town where I got my start, now has a mall, two Cineplex's, a Costco, and most all of the other major chain stores that you find in a big city. We went to the house that I lived in when I was born and found that it is now painted a vibrant purple. It is also for sale. The house next door which belonged to my godparents is now brown and it was painfully obvious by looking at the neglected back yard that they are no longer there. When I was a child, they were our retired neighbors and spent their days alternating between caring for the plants and tending to their garden and polishing and cutting rocks. They were ardent rock collectors and their home was filled with amazing rocks that although unremarkable on the outside, were sliced open to reveal amazing crystal formations and stones. My childhood memories are very fond and I photographed the alley that I walked down to get to school. I could proudly say that I walked to kindergarten by myself, but in reality, my godparents could watch me walk into the school building from their yard, so I really wasn't as independent as I thought that I was. Without connections to the people living in these homes, things were different from my last visit, as it was just the homes, now inhabited by others that I was visiting. We drove around town and decided to take in a film. It didn't start for an hour so we went and found a tiny bar and had a great local beer, Great White. After sitting there drinking the beer and chatting with the locals (the bartender offered us some pizza that they were eating, not for sale, just a kind gesture) I was slightly disappointed that we had to leave as we had a movie to get to. If you are ever in Eureka, CA, stop in at Ernie's on A St. just off of 6th. It's a cool little hole in the wall.
Day 3 - We did some more driving around in the morning. I tried to get a Humboldt State sweatshirt for myself but the University was closed for winter break. I guess I will just have to get one online somehow. I had a sweatshirt a few years back, but over the years, it is one of the articles of clothing that has disappeared into the black hole of clothing lost. Another disappointment would be my discovery upon arriving in San Francisco later, that I had left my white corduroy blazer in the hotel room in Eureka. Joseph called and tried to locate it, but to no avail. Somehow, housekeeping had failed to find the blazer that I had left hanging in the closet. Bummer for me...a stylish fashion treat for someone else...
We had lunch at a local pub that makes Great White among other beers (I had a tasty Tangerine Wheat) and then headed south on Hwy 101 to San Francisco. We drove down the Avenue of the Giants, a 33 mile long scenic alternate route through some of the most amazing stretch of the Redwood forest. We drove through a tree and saw a ONE LOG house. It was pretty amazing. That is one sight that I would never tire of. The weather was not working with us. It was dark, stormy, and raining wickedly. The drive to San Francisco was tiring as visibility was poor and it was dreary. Some stretches of road move by more quickly than others. By the time we were crossing the Golden Gate bridge (another magnificent sight) we were so tired, that I was desperate to get to a hotel so that we could crash. We drove around San Francisco taking in the sights of the Tenderloin district, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. There was a blues club, Lou's Blues Club, on the pier and so we went to check it out. A local band, the Riverside Kings, was playing. They reminded me of a blues-y version of Christ I'm Chuck. They were very good, and although I was practically lying down in my seat from exhaustion, I was enjoying it. I went to the restroom and had to wait as both stalls were full. The first person who came out of a stall was, surprise - a man! I said ummm, hi and headed in after he left. After I came out of the bathroom, he saw me and began apologizing. "I just followed the guy in that was in front of me. I thought it was the men's restroom. I am so sorry. I guess that kind of thing can only happen to you in San Francisco. " After leaving the blues club, we headed out to grab a quick bite and find a hotel. We went to In-n-Out Burger, which I have just discovered, makes a damn good burger. Joseph had been raving about it, so I suggested that we check it out. Yum! We also got some free entertainment out of the deal. There was a Japanese woman sitting at a table by herself talking and screaming in Japanese to no one in particular. She had her hair up in pigtails high up on her head like a little girl would and had on face makeup (white) and was kind of looking a little like a geisha. She was yelling on and on. It was entertaining. We got in the car to look for a hotel, and all of a sudden, we got a second wind. I think it was the food that did it. I figured that if we went straight to a hotel, that we wouldn't have the energy to venture out later that night again. We went in search of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, just to check it out. We found it and it is a very eclectic little neighborhood with all different types of folks out and about. Do you know what is on the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets? I bet you can't guess. This corner, this corner famous for being the supposed birthplace of hippies, so counter culture, is now home to - The Gap. That's right. The Gap. Where was the protest against that? Crazy, baby. We parked the car and walked up and down Haight street and wandered into an cool old bar called Zam Zam. We just went in for one drink and then sat there and talked with the bartender and the other patrons until closing time. The music on the jukebox was from another era. Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Rays Charles...
The bar was 50 years old and it was all made of wood and it was beautiful. There was a mural behind the bar that had been restored. We had a great time and met some interesting characters. Sometimes it's worth it to rally. San Francisco is a collection of interesting and kitschy neighborhoods, each with their own flavor. I can see why it has been named the most livable city in America numerous times.
Day 4 - The next day, after spending some time in a coffee shop for breakfast in the Presidio neighborhood, we decided to head south as quickly as possible in order to spend some time in Mexico. I was hoping to drive down Hwy 1 between Monterey along the coast down to San Luis Obispo, but if we continued to travel at that pace, we were sure to run out of time. So on to the boring stretch, headed down I-5, where everything all started to look strangely like...California. I have always considered Northern California to be more of an extension of Oregon than part of California. I got a call from the kids who were in Acapulco enjoying the 90 degree weather. They sounded really happy and healthy and it was really nice to hear their voices. It will be really great to see them on the 4th and to hear about their adventures.
To be continued...
Day 1 - Since my kids are off in Mexico with their dad, Joseph and I headed out on a road trip this week to see what we could see. Before we took off on Christmas day we first had the task of cleaning out my car for the journey. The kids had left the most disgusting stuff in the car and as we were cleaning out the back of my car and finding food mixed with change and toys and all sorts of nastiness, I was resolved to setting up some new rules when the kids get back about what will be acceptable in the car. It was pretty nasty. We'll see if I can stick to my guns when they get back. We headed south and got as far as Coos Bay. We stayed there for the night and went off roading on the beach the next morning to find the wreckage of the New Carissa before we continued on down Hwy 101.
Day 2 - We headed down the Oregon coast and into California to the Redwood forest. This part of the trip was special for me as I was born in Humboldt county and lived there until I finished kindergarten. The sight of the sequoias is overwhelming. To see a tree and know that it has been there for 1,000 and some for more than 5,000 years is a reminder of the insignificant blip that is my life by comparison. It's kind of a religious experience. Although I have been accused of being a tree hugger in the past, there has never been any convincing proof until now.
I was especially excited about sharing the beauty of northern California with Joseph as he had never experienced it. Needless to say, he was impressed.
We arrived in Eureka, my hometown, to find that it has grown enormously. It has everything. The little coastal town where I got my start, now has a mall, two Cineplex's, a Costco, and most all of the other major chain stores that you find in a big city. We went to the house that I lived in when I was born and found that it is now painted a vibrant purple. It is also for sale. The house next door which belonged to my godparents is now brown and it was painfully obvious by looking at the neglected back yard that they are no longer there. When I was a child, they were our retired neighbors and spent their days alternating between caring for the plants and tending to their garden and polishing and cutting rocks. They were ardent rock collectors and their home was filled with amazing rocks that although unremarkable on the outside, were sliced open to reveal amazing crystal formations and stones. My childhood memories are very fond and I photographed the alley that I walked down to get to school. I could proudly say that I walked to kindergarten by myself, but in reality, my godparents could watch me walk into the school building from their yard, so I really wasn't as independent as I thought that I was. Without connections to the people living in these homes, things were different from my last visit, as it was just the homes, now inhabited by others that I was visiting. We drove around town and decided to take in a film. It didn't start for an hour so we went and found a tiny bar and had a great local beer, Great White. After sitting there drinking the beer and chatting with the locals (the bartender offered us some pizza that they were eating, not for sale, just a kind gesture) I was slightly disappointed that we had to leave as we had a movie to get to. If you are ever in Eureka, CA, stop in at Ernie's on A St. just off of 6th. It's a cool little hole in the wall.
Day 3 - We did some more driving around in the morning. I tried to get a Humboldt State sweatshirt for myself but the University was closed for winter break. I guess I will just have to get one online somehow. I had a sweatshirt a few years back, but over the years, it is one of the articles of clothing that has disappeared into the black hole of clothing lost. Another disappointment would be my discovery upon arriving in San Francisco later, that I had left my white corduroy blazer in the hotel room in Eureka. Joseph called and tried to locate it, but to no avail. Somehow, housekeeping had failed to find the blazer that I had left hanging in the closet. Bummer for me...a stylish fashion treat for someone else...
We had lunch at a local pub that makes Great White among other beers (I had a tasty Tangerine Wheat) and then headed south on Hwy 101 to San Francisco. We drove down the Avenue of the Giants, a 33 mile long scenic alternate route through some of the most amazing stretch of the Redwood forest. We drove through a tree and saw a ONE LOG house. It was pretty amazing. That is one sight that I would never tire of. The weather was not working with us. It was dark, stormy, and raining wickedly. The drive to San Francisco was tiring as visibility was poor and it was dreary. Some stretches of road move by more quickly than others. By the time we were crossing the Golden Gate bridge (another magnificent sight) we were so tired, that I was desperate to get to a hotel so that we could crash. We drove around San Francisco taking in the sights of the Tenderloin district, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf. There was a blues club, Lou's Blues Club, on the pier and so we went to check it out. A local band, the Riverside Kings, was playing. They reminded me of a blues-y version of Christ I'm Chuck. They were very good, and although I was practically lying down in my seat from exhaustion, I was enjoying it. I went to the restroom and had to wait as both stalls were full. The first person who came out of a stall was, surprise - a man! I said ummm, hi and headed in after he left. After I came out of the bathroom, he saw me and began apologizing. "I just followed the guy in that was in front of me. I thought it was the men's restroom. I am so sorry. I guess that kind of thing can only happen to you in San Francisco. " After leaving the blues club, we headed out to grab a quick bite and find a hotel. We went to In-n-Out Burger, which I have just discovered, makes a damn good burger. Joseph had been raving about it, so I suggested that we check it out. Yum! We also got some free entertainment out of the deal. There was a Japanese woman sitting at a table by herself talking and screaming in Japanese to no one in particular. She had her hair up in pigtails high up on her head like a little girl would and had on face makeup (white) and was kind of looking a little like a geisha. She was yelling on and on. It was entertaining. We got in the car to look for a hotel, and all of a sudden, we got a second wind. I think it was the food that did it. I figured that if we went straight to a hotel, that we wouldn't have the energy to venture out later that night again. We went in search of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, just to check it out. We found it and it is a very eclectic little neighborhood with all different types of folks out and about. Do you know what is on the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets? I bet you can't guess. This corner, this corner famous for being the supposed birthplace of hippies, so counter culture, is now home to - The Gap. That's right. The Gap. Where was the protest against that? Crazy, baby. We parked the car and walked up and down Haight street and wandered into an cool old bar called Zam Zam. We just went in for one drink and then sat there and talked with the bartender and the other patrons until closing time. The music on the jukebox was from another era. Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Rays Charles...
The bar was 50 years old and it was all made of wood and it was beautiful. There was a mural behind the bar that had been restored. We had a great time and met some interesting characters. Sometimes it's worth it to rally. San Francisco is a collection of interesting and kitschy neighborhoods, each with their own flavor. I can see why it has been named the most livable city in America numerous times.
Day 4 - The next day, after spending some time in a coffee shop for breakfast in the Presidio neighborhood, we decided to head south as quickly as possible in order to spend some time in Mexico. I was hoping to drive down Hwy 1 between Monterey along the coast down to San Luis Obispo, but if we continued to travel at that pace, we were sure to run out of time. So on to the boring stretch, headed down I-5, where everything all started to look strangely like...California. I have always considered Northern California to be more of an extension of Oregon than part of California. I got a call from the kids who were in Acapulco enjoying the 90 degree weather. They sounded really happy and healthy and it was really nice to hear their voices. It will be really great to see them on the 4th and to hear about their adventures.
To be continued...
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