The Berlin Wall...

... in Portland, Maine!

Crappy cell photo

We had a great time at the Waterfront...onto Boston via Amtrak today.
Just 1 lost camera, 1 flight delay, 1 rental car fiasco...but lots of good times.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT

 IS BETTER TORN DOWN* 

9-11

The Captain and I had a blast in NYC. We had an amazing hotel right over the 9-11 Memorial. In fact, it was the only place we could see Ground Zero. When I booked the hotel on Priceline, (Yep, name your price,) I knew which hotel it was before we paid for it because of the description. Our room overlooked the sight and we could see the people lined up to get into the park and view the reflecting pools. But it wasn't until I was actually down there that it hit me. People on this very spot jumped from the inferno... out the blown out windows, to their death. It was a choice- burn to death or jump- holding the hand of someone they knew- or didn't know until that moment. The very spot where terrorists crashed planes full of innocent people.

Although it was almost 12 years ago I vividly remember listening to the radio that morning as I was lying in bed. When I heard the news I jumped up, switched on the TV...and then the second hit. I woke up my children and had them come down. The Captain was on his way to work. I didn't want to send my kids to school...I didn't want to go to work...but I tried to keep things as normal as possible. That day the kindergartners didn't know much about what had happened. As I worked parents filled me in on other flights that were off course and eventually of what had happened. All flights were ordered to the closest airports....it was eerie at recess with no planes overhead...my school was right under the flight path...so we were used to the noise of planes coming and going from SFO.

The next day children were talking....we were told to keep things normal and try not to let the younger kids discuss what had happened. Our school and community seemed to unite that first week. Flags were flown and cars and had decals and USA!! stickers on them. Fire trucks flew the American Flag on board and wore NYFD on their sleeves.

On the first anniversary of 9-11, Daughter #1 was in the hospital with a cancer diagnosis. I bought little flags for every child on the cancer wing's IV/med pumps. I hung a full size flag from her window which overlooked the hospital parking garage. Again our community was united. I didn't think about the people who jumped, or the little children who were born and would never know their fathers...I just kept going.

But yesterday, I had a hard time sleeping. I kept thinking that right there, where I had walked, people died....LOTS of people. And it wasn't an accident- or mother nature, or a freak happening...it was on purpose. 3,000 people were murdered. I am happy there is a memorial there...but I am unhappy that the entire thing happened and we have a reason to have that memorial. I am sure my father felt that way when he returned to the places he was actively fighting in during WWII. So very sad.

On a happier note, Amtrak was only 1 hour behind today and we are at

Viagara Niagara Falls!

This is the Canadian side from our hotel room!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*DON'T GO OVER IN A BARREL*

We walked in her crown today....

And it was awesome!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*CLIMB A WHOLE LOT OF STAIRS*

Another item checked off my bucket list....

Although it wasn't the old stadium where the Babe played, it is still Yankees Stadium.

And although my Angels lost miserably, I managed to get myself there via subway, buy a ticket, watch the game and get myself back- through the not so nice neighborhood, and safely back to the hostel...with my souvenir cup!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LOVE  BASEBALL*

I looked for Jerry and Elaine...

but didn't even see Kramer or George...I guess they are still in jail?

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*MY BRAIN IS FULL*

Oakland, Denver, Phillie and Newark

I airport hopped today...Phillie wasn't in the plans, but what the heck...I have never been to Pennsylvania so why not cross that state off my list?! 

As we approached Newark, 30 minutes early the radar went out for all New York Airports. We circled...and circled until we were out of fuel....so we went to Phillie, landed, got fueled up and headed back to Newark. 

Loooong day. I am at the hostel now and boy I got some looks....like...what is that old lady doing here? But for $50 in New York City, right near Columbia....I am doing the same thing they are...N.Y. on the cheap!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*AIRPORT HOPPING IS NOT 

ALL IT IS CRACKED UP TO BE*

Welcome to Denver....

...Now wait 2 hours for you connecting flight.....

 

 

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*

LAUGH HARDER*TRAVEL ALL DAY TO

GET TO NEW YORK!*

N Zed- Round Two

We dropped her off at SFO and she flew Air New Zealand....the finest flight I have ever taken, to Auckland. 46 pounds in the backpack, 24 in the carry on and another 15 in the small backpack...enough for a year!

Have fun kiddo!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*TRAVEL WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG*

Ready, Set.....

                            .... BACK TO SCHOOL      NO!    GO ON VACATION!!

It feels like summer is just beginning for me....Sunday I leave for New York. I will spend a week at Columbia University's Teacher's College for the Reading Institute. I am soooo excited.

When it ends on Friday, I will meet up with The Captain at a hotel. I am sure I will be ready for our own room after staying in a hostel all week. On Saturday we have tickets to the CROWN of the Statue of Liberty and then we will take in a Broadway show that night. Then on Sunday we will take Amtrak to Niagara Falls in Ontario. That is what we have planned so far....and our return tickets. We will be home for two days and then we will leave for backpacking on Santa Cruz Island, in Channel Island National Park.

School does not begin for kids until September 11, due to the remodeling of all the schools. I am sooooo enjoying this long summer. All my bloggy friends are getting their classrooms ready and I am going on vacation! I am sure I will be posting a different version of this next June when everyone is out of school and I am still working until JUNE 25!! But for now I will enjoy my summer.

I usually don't post my vacation plans but we have people staying at our house and taking care of the animals...so if you planned to steal my Pez collection you'll have to try another time.

Today I finished canning the last of the salsa thanks to a friend for bringing me a ton of tomatoes! I also canned tomatoes with basil and garlic when I ran out of the rest of the peppers and celantro....that will make for some great spaghetti sauce and chili! I just wish I had apricots to make jam.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER* ENJOY THE LONG SUMMER*

Le

Tour de France Peninsula...as close as I got to France this summer....but it was an adventure.

We usually ride the 62 miler...but we have friends coming over and we needed to get home...so we opted for the 31 miler. Good move on our part- It wasn't crowded  at the finish and for the first time, I got the correct size t-shirt...usually everyone who does the shorter rides take all the size small shirts....and I get stuck with a men's medium or an XL- even though I put down a small on my entry form. There were lots of freebies from the vendors and they hadn't run out of tri tip sandwiches at the food booth.

This ride benefits the county parks and is my 5th year participating. One area of the ride was through an area closed to cars on Sundays which is sponsored by the parks...so we had the entire road to ourselves. Another part of the ride was through Sawyer Camp Trail along the reservoir, which is for bike or foot traffic only BUT for today was closed to the public and open only for the riders...so we didn't have to worry about pedestrians or cyclists coming the opposite direction. The bonus is that I am not tired like I would be if I rode the 62 miles.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER* RIDE THE RIDE*

Canning Salsa!

Yesterday the girls and I went to Gilroy. We left after I met my friend to walk 4 miles...and then we headed south.

We hit Walmart first...no big deal for folks who live near one- but we have to travel an hour to get to the SUPER Walmart that sells the tea I love and supplies I need for school and all the toiletries that cost waaaaay more here.

Then we hit the outlets because Daughter #2 will be moving to N. Zed in a week so there are things she needs to get here because she cannot either buy them there or they are waaaaay too much $$. Like eyeliner- $25!! Jeans and shorts and bras....nothing is less than $50. So she got the things she needed...and I got some things I didn't need....like more Chuck Converse and some flip-flops.

We had lunch, bought canning jars and then hit the fruit stands....for freshly picked corn 8 for $1.00! Plums and apricots and of course...TOMATOES for salsa!

 

FINISHED!!

 

All the jars sealed!! Success!

Now to open a jar, put it in the blender and eat up!

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*SHOP AND CAN WITH YOUR GIRLS*



The Sketchbook Project

A few years back, Pumpkin Delight , posted about a cool art project out of Brooklyn, New York. I joined on a whim and received my sketchbook only to leave it on my desk until the very last minute, then spend the final 48 hours creating and finishing it before the deadline. When the project came to San Fran that summer, Daughter #1 and I went to see it. Of course it was the final day on the final hours and it was so crowded waiting to see the books that I only viewed mine and another.

The next summer I was in New York for the Columbia Teacher's College and The Captain and I went to Brooklyn to The Sketchbook Library and got to sit and look at books, chat with the owners and their parents and enjoy the day.

This year once again I participated. I posted my sketchbook here and yesterday we went to The City to see the final day of the tour. It was warm at my house but just up 101 it was foggy and windy. The trailer housing the books was outdoors and it made looking at sketchbooks a little difficult. But we had a good time looking at the sketchbooks- which are very creative and inspiring.

 At the trailer... the next three are the outside and inside of my book....

 The next two are of a cool postcard book someone else from S.F. made of postcards of their travels that year...very clever...

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*MAKE A SKETCHBOOK

 THAT TRAVELS THE WORLD*

Bag-mania!

So the county I live in has banned plastic bags. Seriously this does not bother me as I have been using canvas grocery totes since 1991. I have given many as gifts with my little children's hand prints on them and I have made special embroidered ones since I got my fancy sewing machine. I have been GREEN for a very long time.

Here's what bothers me. I used to get 5 cents for each bag I brought to the grocery store and filled with my groceries. My bags paid for themselves over and over throughout the years. But since this law passed, I no longer receive 5 cents- which really isn't the problem- the problem is that the stores now charge 10 cents for a paper bag. What was once a "service" provided by the store is now passed on as a cost to the consumer. Someone is pocketing the savings.

I have no problem with the law...it will eliminate bags flying around the freeway and from clogging storm drains and all the assorted problems but here's the catch. Fast food chains and restaurants may still "give" you a plastic bag....now around here that is what some people toss out of their window when they finish eating!! I have never seen anyone toss a grocery bag out of the car window because groceries usually get carried into the house in the grocery bags....and those plastic bags got reused for kids' lunches, picking up doggie doo or for cleaning the cat litter box.

So in this bill, the store gives the bag company 10 cents for the bag- which means they no longer have the cost of supplying bags to customers which is a savings to the store that is not passed to the customer. The 10 cents is supposedly sent by the bag company to the county for....??? I can't seem to get that info.

The interesting thing is that store like Home Depot- (ever see a contractor carry his personal tote into the store?) -what is happening there is the men just put everything into their cart after checking out, and push it to the lot and unload into their truck....and the parking lot is filled with carts that would normally not be there. Then yesterday I went to the mall with Daughter #2...I hadn't been there since before Christmas...and the thought of carrying my canvas bags into the mall never crossed my mind. When I purchased a shirt in Nordstrom...the clerk wrapped it in tissue and then handed it to me...and I put it in my backpack (purse) which was really odd. I guess I will have to start bringing canvas bags when shopping in the mall now....because you know, so many people tossed their Nordstrom and Macy's bags out the window on their way home from the mall.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER

*LAUGH HARDER*BYO BAG*

I will never do that when I grow up...

Daughter #1 moved just moved out....she went to college and returned home to complete a two year credential and masters program. She will be tenured on her first day of school this fall. She has saved money and made wise decisions and is now beyond the time she should be living away from home.

Daughter #2 is moving back to N. Zed as they call it down there...she returned from New Zealand via five months in 9 countries in Southeast Asia and has worked since last December saving her money and jumping through all the hoops to get her VISA. She successfully completed an internship in her field at Filoli Mansion and is ready for her next adventures which may include her masters.

Both girls held a rummage sale last weekend to sell all the "stuff" they no longer need. With their help, I also cleared out cupboards, closets and the garage of stuff I "no longer need."

Years ago when I would help my mom clean up I would say, "MOM- YOU DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE....IT JUST COLLECTS DUST AND TAKES UP ROOM!!!"

I couldn't understand why that faded piece of whatever was so difficult to put in the Goodwill bag or trash.....I WILL NEVER BE LIKE THAT WHEN I GROW UP!

Famous last words...duh!

I don't need the Toy Story and Incredible wash cloths...I have plenty that match the bathroom towels and seriously...why? But I will save them in the rag bag....or maybe just one for the grandkids I hope to have one day...or for cleaning the dog's paws after a muddy walk....or...or...oh for heaven's sakes...put them in the Goodwill bag!

I have been on a roll here. A coach for Stanford will be staying in Daughter # 1's old room...he will arrive in a few days and The Captain has been busy prepping the room...which included a new vanity and baseboards and a paint job in the bathroom and patching the nail holes in the baseboards (that weren't done 10 years ago when put in,) and sanding the medicine chest because there was a speck of rust on the bottom...

...and Daughter #2 keeps finding another something we need to organize or toss or shred...like all the bank statements from 2002....and wait....DON'T TOSS THAT I MIGHT NEED IT SOMEDAY.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*CLEAN UP YOUR HOUSE

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NEED

THAT ANY LONGER!*

HALF DOME II

 

All but me at the trail head.

We left the trail head parking lot at 10:10...p.m. We hiked throughout the night under the pitch black sky covered with millions of stars. The waxing half moon had long set and it was just us on the trail....and the critters that Daughter #2 spotted: a scorpion, a millipede, a white frog, ants (yes a night!) and a deer...which was my joke "Look! A deer in the headlamps!" A ranger in the parking lot told us that there has been a lot of bear activity but we did not see any...although I am sure they saw us.

The hike was easier than last year as I was fresh- I didn't ride 62 miles that day, so I wasn't left in the dust when we took off....although one of our friends was rather slow. We did not get our hour's nap before the ascent.

The sky was just beginning to light up as we got to the saddle.

This was The Captain's first time and after climbing the 800+ granite stairs to the saddle where you get your first glimpse of the cables, he saw what I had described and our friend said, "I can't do that!" But after a short rest and a drink of water and seeing daughter #1 say, "I going," and then scamper right up to the top he was willing to try. I followed Daughter #1 and Daughter #2 who is afraid of heights was right behind me. This time I self assured and ready for the adventure. I was able to take in the views and not panic but your life is literally in your own hands...you let go and it is a L>O>N>G way to the bottom. I wore my Garmin and timed the climb...15 minutes! It is a 30 minute average ascent so I felt good about that. I did not fear my hands or feet slipping this time so I was able to enjoy the view....last time I kept thinking, "If I fall from here I am dead" and then as I neared the bottom I thought, "Well if I fall from here I wouldn't die but I'd be really messed up." This time it was all fun!

 

The Captain and our friend making it to the top.

See that little spot on the mountain? Below that is the parking lot where we have to hike to!

Here comes the sun!

Last time I did not venture out to the famous ledge to take a photo...but this time when Daughter #1 headed out to do so, and The Captain, I knew I had to....

 

 If you slip it is an 8,830' drop to the valley floor.

You can tell that my daughter is much braver than her mom and dad....check out where she is standing and where we are! She is a rock climber and much more comfortable on the edge of the world.

We had a wonderful time and I hope I am lucky enough to get permits in the next lottery to climb again....and next time there will be time for a nap on the trail!

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER

*LAUGH HARDER*CLIMB THE CABLES AND STAND ON THE EDGE*CARPE DIEM*

62 miles or 100K for the Lung Association

Today we biked 100K.....I like to use kilometers because it sounds so much more impressive. Last year when I rode this event I came home and found out that Daughter #1's friend had an extra permit to climb Half Dome...so in 30 minutes I packed and hit the road to Yosemite...and we arrived at 10:30 at night when it was 80 degrees and hiked throughout the night and we were on the tip top at sunrise. Then we hiked all the way down and drove home.

And I won't do that again...39 hours of "I am too old for this!"

So today I will shower, relax and wait until Tuesday to drive out and climb Half Dome. This time with both Daughters and The Captain...and two friends.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RIDE THE RIDE AND

CLIMB THE CABLES*

And the trees, came tumblin' down....

Well, not exactly tumbling, but down.

We have a very tiny yard. When we bought this house 27 years ago, there were two redwoods- one in each corner of our tiny backyard. We had an arborist come by and check them out to see if they were healthy as the leaves were a little reddish. He assured us the trees were healthy BUT he said, "these will become very BIG trees."

We were happy with the healthy part, and as for the large part, who cares- we weren't going to live here very long anyway. 27 years later, the trees towered over our house. The branches dragged along the siding and rain gutters and made creepy noises- especially when you were home alone. Then the roots began to grow into our septic system and then roots decided to push over the very expensive retaining wall and pull up the brick patio we so carefully laid out with the help of our children so long ago. It was time.

When the first tree came down I counted the rings. 50. Planted when the house was pretty much just built....but in one part near the center and right side, there was a dark spongy circle...that I was told was decay. This tree was dead! Thankfully we did cut this down because one big storm and the tree could have landed on our house or even worse, our neighbor's. The next tree was healthy and that was the one with the gigantic root system. Our bedroom is now filled with light and we could see the stars last night. I can't wait for the next full moon!

The workers also trimmed our avocado tree. And the Japanese Maple on our little waterfall pond. And they clipped shrubs and took out the branches of our neighbor's tree that was overhanging our driveway so much that it was in the power lines and made it so I couldn't drive the U-Haul into our driveway to unload. We were able to cut back our wisteria and put the clippings into the worker's truck. We got so much done and the workers were incredibly nice.

And we are so happy with the little yard now that we can't wait to redo it with a vegetable garden and relay the brick patio....oh- and with the permit to remove the trees we are required to plant one approved tree....I am going for 3....a lemon, plum and avocado!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*HAVE SOME MAJOR TREE

TUMBLING DONE TO MAKE

YOURSELF A HAPPY LITTLE YARD*

Eerie

It's a little eerie here looking at the night sky and only seeing a few planes in the sky when driving down Hwy 101. After the plane crash on Friday SFO was closed...planes were diverted and then flights were canceled.

My neighbor text me a cell phone photo of the crash that she witnessed from her parents house just a few miles up hill from the airport. How sad for the families who lost children on the flight- two 16 year old girls coming to the U.S.- let alone adult loved ones. And then the people who had to get places to make a connecting flight, catch a cruise ship at port...make it to a funeral or wedding....just so sad.

On a lighter note, Daughter #1 and her boyfriend and parents all went to Beach Blanket Babylon in The City tonight. It was the first time I have been and it was fantastic! Then we followed it up with a great dinner in North Beach.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*

LAUGH HARDER*

 

Adventures on Craigslist

So daughter's # 1 and 2 are moving out. One across the bay to a house that has a small room and she will not need all of the items she had when she lived in a larger house in college. 2 is moving to New Zealand! She does not need her dresser and items that are too big to store here...so yesterday I listed a whole lot on craigslist.

And I got a lot of replies...

*For a $15 bathroom shelf- I live in Daly City...are you willing to meet me half way?
(seriously you want me to drive 15 minutes and a gallon of gas to meet someone I don't know all to make $15?)

*For an IKEA 6 drawer chest $125- I really, really want this! I have been looking for one for a long time! Will you hold it until August?
(If you pay me for it now I will hold it until August 1.)  

*For a set of Corelle dishes $10- I love these. Will you take $5?

* For a heavy duty metal full size bed frame with castors $15- How old is the mattress and will you deliver it?

The dresser and an ice cream maker sold...the people were nice and came right on over didn't ask if we would take less $$...you just never know what to expect with craigslist!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*HAPPY 4TH OF JULY*

S.F. Women's Nike Marathon

On June 28th, 100,000+ people, mainly women, waited for an email notifying them if they were lucky recipients of a slot in the S.F. Nike Marathon in October.

 *It's the 10 anniversary so it is an even more special event.

Daughter #1 and I registered to run as a team with another survivor and her father from New Jersey....her mother has run all 10 years! When you register as a team, your entire team is either in or not. I have registered 8 times and gotten in 4x.

So imagine my surprise when Daughter #1 opened her email and said we were IN! Then I opened mine and saw.....

Your entry was not accepted, but your second chance opportunity is here. Read below for two opportunities to earn your spot at the starting line.

WTF mate?!! So I quickly text our friends...the 12 year old girl got in...but the dad did not. I tried to call the 800 number to no avail...so I sent an email and got a rather quick response...

You will join the thousands of women who will conquer the hills of San Francisco in the 10th year anniversary of the Nike Women's Marathon.  The run is amazing and at the finish there are firemen dressed in tuxedos holding silver platters which are piled high with little turquoise Tiffany boxes where your finishers necklace resides. The race raises millions of dollars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society- a cause close to our hearts since Daughter #1 and the girl we are running with are both childhood leukemia SURVIVORS!

Here we are at the finish of the 2011 half...and now we will run our 3rd Nike together...now that I got my offical email.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN THE NIKE...IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IN THE LOTTERY*