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I did it...

Because Megan was out of school during the summer I didn't swim laps as often as I would have liked. But since she started up again in early sept I've been jumping at the chance to swim 3 days a week. Then I got sick and missed a week of swimming. I had started at a half mile and was working my way up before I got sick. When I got back in the pool I barely made a half mile. But today I did it a whole mile and in 52 minutes.

It made me giddy and stupid. I put my pin number in the machine when I was later paying for something with a credit card. - you don't need a pin for a credit card. And then after I picked up Megan and was on fire cracking jokes with another mom.

So i'm not at all nervous about the swim a thon next week.

A depressing Point - Coyote Point that is

Yesterday after a birthday party and a trip the the park, Megan and I headed over to Coyote Point Museum, which is an environmental museum with lots of exhibits on conservation mixed with animals. I'd been there before, but not in a long time, and they currently have a "Green Dollhouse" exhibit that I wanted to see. The exhibit was in fact interesting - giving me lots of ideas for fixing up Megan's doll house. The rest of the museum was in fact sad. Exhibits were either broken or not there, those that were in tact had signs that were so worn out I couldn't read them to Megan when she asked me to. One she was interested in was all about dirt and I tried to read her the info and then just winged it.

The 2 highlights were that we were their practically alone - the last time i'd gone with Yvonne and Josephine, the place was packed, and that the animals were all out and most were active because the weather was so cool. Those that were sleeping where clearly visible in their dens thanks to cute little windows that gave us that view. The badger was really adorable, as he was scratching and stretching between naps.

A friend of mine who works with environmental groups here, told me that Coyote Point was up for sale and was looking like it was going to be closed when they couldn't find a buyer. They just recently got one, which might explain why they are in such bad repair. I'll go back in a year or so and give it another look - and hope they have been able to fix repair and replace.

Finished...

One good thing about having this darn cold was that I used the time to finish Megan's halloween costume. It looks awesome if I do say so myself, and i'm continually amazed that I can make things like that happen.

You'll just have to wait for pictures of what it is, but i'm thinking of trying to make something (simpler) for myself but in theme.

It was a great weekend. Jack and Megan did a hike with some friends saturday morning while I stayed home and sewed. When they got home we headed over to our pool. The heater was down and the pool was frigid so we loaded back in the car and went over to the City of Newark's Indoor pool and water play area. We had so much fun playing and swimming and Jack and Megan went down the slides. Megan and I did the lazy river several times too.

We finished up around dinner time so when we all cleaned up and headed to Vito's Italian Restaurant .

This morning Megan and I were greeted with smells of Jack baking fresh scones, which he served with Scrambled eggs. Then they headed out with Oso to goto the beach while I got to work on the finishing up the costume. After Returning Oso they went to see a movie and after a quick trip back to the fabric store... I FINISHED!

We ended the day with a dip in the spa and Jack got out and made dinner while Megan and I played and then showered.

It really was a lovely weekend.

out out damn cold!

Megan brought home a cold the first week of school. She had a stuffy nose for a day and 2 nights. The second day she woke up feeling fine. 2 days later I had a scratchy throat. Now i'm stuffed up and starting to sound a bit Tenor.

Didn't stop me from taking a class tonight on Beading Earrings. Really enjoyed myself. I made 4 pairs and really just plowed through finishing in the 3 hours, while everyone else in class managed one of each pair- with homework. not that I have time to really get into Beading right now - but i know how to know when I do have time.

New Masthead

I designed my first mast head. My previous ones Jack did for me... this one I did. Now that I know I can do it maybe I'll change it more often.

It was fun using my brain.

For mom

Since my mother died I have tried to grow gardenias. They are picky plants but they were her favorite flower so I try and try. The plants usually do ok but never flower.

Finally ....

Boingy Boingy Boingy Bing... Or my Dora Rant

Megan has this Dora book... that I loath. It not just that each time we're back into story books (and not reading chapter books) she picks it out, its that the whole story is beyond ridiculous. The premise is that Dora must become a true princess in order to save Boots who has fallen under a sleeping spell. Fine I get it and I know that that is why Megan loves the book because she wants to be a True Princess. But what absolutely kills me each time I read it is that the 4 tests that Dora must do to become a true princess are so stupid. The first is find a red ring in a dragons cave - ok not so bad I'll let that one slide, the second is teach giant sleeping rocks to sing. Even that one I can slide - but the last too are turning Winter to spring and bringing the moon down to a king and queen are just wrong- she's not trying to be a god she's trying to be a princess - what does taming seasons or moving celestial objects have to do with that.

I actually love Dora, The show is cute and Megan has picked up a few good things from watching it. Most of the books are helpful - like the one about Dora going to the dentist - Megan and I have been reading it to prepare for her trip at the end of the month - but this true princess one - come on people give Dora tasks that are slightly credible cause we have little girls out here in the real world who want to become "True Princesses!"

I'm going to get Megan in to another chapter book cause I need a break from this darn book.

Contrary to Reports

Really I'm fine. I know when I disappear from the blog-o-sphere for a week at a time my fans get very concerned (all 4 of you). No really I'm fine. Great even.

Megan has been back in school and loving it. I've been using the time to get back in to swimming since its less than a month to the swim-a-thon. I've been doing 1/2 mile swims and plan on going for a 3/4 mile on Friday.

I'm also in the middle of making Megan's halloween costume for the year. Its as involved as last years with more pieces, but I think overall it should be an easier project. I'm going to not tell you what it is and let you guess when you see the pictures.

On top of school Megan has a few extra classes. She's taking cooking and soccer and then once a month she has a science class. Today was both cooking and science and I gave myself a whole 30 minutes to get from one (in southern Fremont) to the other (in Hayward) a speed limit drive of 45 minutes. We were late but only just and she throughly enjoyed both classes. Here's hoping my scheduling powers improve.

I've been actually using and loving Apple's calendar program "ical" I figured out that I could sync to my ipod so now I can even take the whole schedule with me - a big help.

The other things on my plate that I haven't even started are - the refurbishing of my old doll house which I had planned on giving to Gee for her birthday but I might delay and plan on Christmas instead, and her birthday party which other than picking a date i've done nothing on. Oh and there is Disney - but that is pretty much planned. We're meeting the folks from Casa De Newf in Orlando in November for a week of fun with the cousins. I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT!

Megan Underwater

Check out more on Jack's Blog

Great White

Megan and I spent the last day of summer (before her school starts tomorrow) at the Monteray Bay Aquarium because last thursday they put on exhibit another Great White Shark. This one is a male slightly larger than the female they had 2 years ago. It was very cool to see. Megan and I really enjoy watching him swim around and we arrived just in time to watch them feed the fish that share the tank with him (barracuda, Blue fin and Yellow fin Tuna, and Bonito). We then went over to the Splash Zone since a month ago with Grandpa and Mumsie it was too crowded to even try and play there. Megan got her fill and then we explored the rest of the Aquarium. Megan even sat still for a 15 minute presentation on "Project: Great White" in the Auditorium.

We walked over to Pacific Grove for lunch at a great little place Called Archie's American Diner.

After lunch we went back to the Aquarium and watched the shark some more. I just couldn't get enough of this amazing creature- one we all fear and we truly don't understand.

The traffic was kind both coming and going - I guess with kids back in school, people are staying much closer to home.