Beginning the Christmas Season

I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit. Not there yet, although I did have a fabulous time in Lake Havasu (officially, Lake Havasu City, AZ) watching their Boat Parade of Lights at the London Bridge this past weekend.

That was pretty much all that was on the agenda, but Joaquin decided to go swimming in the hotel pool before going to the London Bridge Beach and wading in the water. Oy, that boy and water. Normally Arizonans don't go swimming between Labor and Memorial Days. He said it was a little cold at first but he got used to it quickly.

After the beach, we got to the London Bridge before noon, walked around and stayed late. It was nice being near water. Refreshing. And watching those boats all lighted up on the water, with only a small amount of people to contend with, that made it really special.

My only annoyance came at the end of the trip when we were going to take a Mississippi Riverboat tour around the channel on "The Dixie Belle." We left without going on the tour because after announcing that they canceled the 12:00 tour at 11:30, while people were waiting no-less, they decided to have the 12:00 tour and cancel the 1:30 tour instead. We missed it. My vow is to never try to go again. We'll see how that goes.

There is so much potential in that little area. Many of the shops in the English Village near the bridge are empty. There isn't even a little teashop. They should have a little teashop. It may be the economy but it's something for me to think about for the future. My sister offered to be the accountant. I told her that that staff will have multiple duties, not just one job.

Anyway, we're back. Jerry stayed at the Doggie Dude Ranch because so far, he doesn't get along well with others. We get to pick him up Monday. I cannot wait to see him. I hope he didn't think we abandoned him.

I picked up a few Christmas presents in Lake Havasu and I've ordered some from Etsy. I'm going to stop at some local shops to pickup other gifts and might get to the mall at some point because, what is Christmas without Bath and Body Works?

So, it is coming along. Maybe I'll even decorate the house, against my better judgement.

Watch this space for a few pictures which will be forthcoming...

Shiny Happy People

Well, we're back from Florida. Other than the humidity and sweat, I had a good time. In every picture of me, I have a shiny face. My sister said I needed blotter papers. I couldn't carry the amount of paper for all the blotting I needed to do.

On Friday, we went to Epcot. I was hot and miserable, one big pool of sweat. We visited "The Seas With Nemo and Friends" and "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience." Both were amazing. We had to leave the HISTA show early because Joaquin got a little scared with the 3D effects. I should have just removed the glasses so he could have seen how non-threatening it looks like without them. We also went on "Journey Into Imagination With Figment," a character my sister fell in love with. Then, of course, there were the countries around the world in the different pavillions. Joaquin's favorite was England for some reason. He even got a flag.

We only got about halfway around the park before we had to stake out a spot for the fireworks; being July 4th, we knew it was going to be spectacular. It was so hot and my feet ached so much that at one point I was tempted to stay in the ladies room where there was air conditioning and a place to sit, even if that place was the commode. Still, according to Ivan and Pauline, we really didn't see anything. Oh well, maybe again one day. Joaquin is just not that into Disney. Shocking, I know, but true.

I enjoyed my Saturday with Pauline visiting and having lunch in Mount Dora which is a really cute litte town. Was too full to get a cupcake at Mount Dora Cupcakes but did get one at Cupcake Couture. They were very good, but I've not yet been blown away by a professionally baked cupcake. I must have a very unsophisticated palate because I like Betty Crocker just fine.

We spent many hours at Downtown Disney. Wednesday night when we got there, Saturday and Tuesday before leaving. We even saw the "Indiana Jones" movie there while waiting for our flight home. I was shocked when my Brother-in-law told me I'd spent three hours in one store, the World of Disney! I could have probably spent more too. The Lego store was like a magnet to Joaquin.

Sunday we spent the day at Daytona Beach. I even got in the water which doesn't happen in San Diego, CA. because it's too cold. Joaquin, of course, had a blast. He loves the beach.

Nothing we did on this trip can trump Joaquin's trip with his dad to Daytona for NASCAR. They had pit passes! Wearing his Blaniac t-shirt, he got lug nuts from Dave Blaney's pit crew, got several of the driver's autographs and signed the finish line. The pictures tell the real story.

I was a basket case on the way home, July 8. It was Mom's and my birthday. This was something just the two of us shared and it was special to me. "Happy Birthday, mi hija" "Right back at ya, Mom." Although I wanted to just let it pass unnoticed, turns out that I was grateful for the messages left for me. My aunt left a happy birthday song message on my phone which had me in tears at the Orlando airport because Mom used to sing the entire song to us when she called us on our birthdays. According to Joaquin, they were having a birthday party for Grandma in heaven. I hope so because we all know she liked to party.

KSC in FLA

Not a whole lot to say about Kennedy Space Center except I loved the rocket garden (got some good pics) and got goosebumps at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Love the message they were putting out there: they failed but kept perservering, in other words, "Failure is not an option." Words to live by. I'm gonna try to change some of my thought patterns and try not to give up on things so quickly. Stop laughing, I said try.

It wasn't too crowded. Who in their right mind would be out there this time of year. It was a really humid day, I found myself sweating just standing there and got mosquito bites during the bus tour even though I used bug spray. Oh, and Joaquin was a moody booger this morning. He eventually chilled out and became tolerable, even apologized on his own accord, but sheesh, does he have to take after me so much in the "difficult person" area. For a kid who loves planets, meteorology, engines and math, this was not the most interesting place to him, but the gift shops got his attention, of course. This is one of his photos.

I want to go back again when Joaquin gets a little bigger, maybe have lunch with an astronaut and see a few of the other things we missed.

More SF Memories

Ivan stumbled upon an area in Alamo Square Park that had all these shoes filled with plants and thought I might enjoy it.

At first, I thought it was quaint and I began snapping pictures. However, after a few minutes of looking at them, it started to gross me out.

I don't know, the idea of a plant, possibly a relative of a fungus, growing so happily out of someone's old shoes made me worry about the ones I was wearing and what might be growing in them at that very second.

Art is so subjective.

Trying To Find That Happy Place

One of my favorite experiences in San Francisco happened at Alamo Square Park.

A butterfly lit (Alighted? Alit? Landed lightly.) on my finger. He/she was fluttering around near the kids and people on the playground for the longest time. Finally, I put my finger out and there it stopped.

I wonder who it was.

Wish We Weren't Here...

Ivan is snoring next to me, Joaquin is sleeping in his room for the first time in four nights. We're ready to start a new week. Ivan goes back to work tomorrow afternoon.

Joaquin loved the flight both to and from San Francisco. He said he was scared, but I could tell he was excited. And a six year old does very well on a two hour flight. Books and video and a dad who builds an interest in maps, directions and airplanes helps.

It is difficult traveling with a headstrong six year old. More difficult because we're all together 24/7. I remember when I was little I was frequently embarrassed by my famly on those few vacations we took together because we would always argue about something. Or worse, we'd bring along another embarrassing family member who'd do something like hit on the cast members at Disneyland, much to my chagrin (and confusion, seeing how I always thought he was gay).

That doesn't happen very often anymore. Last time was Grandma drinking and dumping all the beer she bought in Mexico when she found out they wouldn't let her bring it across the border, because, "Damned if I'm gonna let them take it home." It did happen with my own family, Ivan, Joaquin and I this trip. There was a point where I was embarrassed to be with them and it brought me back to the old days and I thought, what's the common denominator? Me, of course, so I quickly got over myself and just walked six feet ahead.

I'm so sad to be home. We enjoyed expensive meals, cool air, which turned into cold air and walks, lots of walks. I start getting hives when it's too cold, but I savored every second, even as I scratched at my red, bumpy legs.

We got to San Francisco Wednesday night. Our flight was delayed over four hours because there was no crew. What's that about, United? After stopping by the hotel, we made our way for dinner at Swiss Louie's at Pier 39. My beef overdose began here when I had a steak. Then we walked down to look at the cable cars and feel the cool air.

We went to Golden Gate Bridge where I was impressed by the speedy clearing of an accident which couldn't have been more than 10 minutes. Here it takes forever. Muir Woods was awesome and we made an unexpected discovery found while driving through (getting lost in) the woods: Stinson Beach. We ate at The Stinson Beach Grill had the BEST dessert, had a very good hamburger and a spice apricot mango streudel in the shape of an egg roll. Yum! Later we made our way down to Chinatown for dinner at The Oriental Pearl Resaurant where Rachel Ray ate on $40 a day! It was good,not great, but good and they had very good service. Kind of reminded me of the Super Dragon where we usually eat at home.

Friday we took a train through the forest to Santa Cruz and the beach. We were supposed to return in time to visit with Thomas the Tank Engine, but it didn't work out that way. One little boy was slightly disappointed but worked his way through that disappointment and impressed a saleslady who gave him an eight dollar Thomas balloon to try to make up for said disappointment.


Saturday started with a tour of the ballpark. I've always wanted to go just for the view of the bay. We took a cable car and went for some rides on BART. Walked around the pier, went on a tour of SS Jeremiah O'Brien and lots more walking. We didn't eat lunch anywhere noteable, except to say that Joaquin did get two Simpson toys during our trip, and I had another steak, and I experienced a Philippine shaved ice, called Halo-Halo, that was so good, um, except for the beans--not that they tasted bad, just the idea of beans in my dessert was not becoming to me. We did have a very late, very unhealthy, but very fun dinner at Mel's Drive-in.

Sunday we only had a few hours before we left so after a nice breakfast at the Country Cottage Cafe, a tiny but tasty breakfast and lunch restaurant near where we stayed, we went to Alamo park in front of the famous painted ladies and stopped by Golden Gate Park, which is so extensive that we could have never seen everything before we left.

While there, I fell in love with a radio station, radio alice, which, I swear, was programmed by me. (Except that Gravity song by John Mayer.) I'm so glad I have the Internets so I can listen every day. This radio station played a lot of what I called, "The Whistling Song," which I told Ivan would be mine. Once I discovered it is, Young Folks, by Peter Bjorn and John, it did, in fact, become mine. I also told him this song would stay with him and reveal itself when he'd long thought he'd forgotten it. Guess what he was humming today? Gotta love the Internets: I found this version which I like very much too.

During this trip, Joaquin learned the true meaning of Gift Shop. That was the place he always wants to visit first. I must admit, it's usually the same for me, but I resisted the tchotchkes for a couple of well picked souveniers for me and mine.

Overall, we had a good time. Joaquin liked the airplane, ship, train and hotel room. Still, we decided that San Francisco is for lovers, not six year olds. We're leaving Joaquin home with Grandma next time we come.

Below is an example of the skills learned by travel: A LEGO airport and bridge built by a very tired six year old.