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Another day at Great America

We've gotten our money's worth this year.

Megan and I went to GA again today - we set out to watch all the shows - We got there at lunch, Megan did a few rides and we ate, before heading in to watch her Ice Skating teacher in the Ice Show - Endless Summer. Megan insisted we sit up front and and so Rebecca actually noticed her and waved and smiled when she had a chance. Megan was delighted! After we headed over to and then Megan got her caricature done (Something she's been wanting for a while). Then we rushed over to see "Ed Alonzo - Misfit of Magic" Again we sat right up front and Megan laughed so hard. After we rushed again to see the Dora Show before finishing up our day with a few rides. We left and met Jack at a restaurant for dinner before coming home.

Pictures from the day - iPhone quality.

Key thief

we have lost not one, not two, but three different sets of keys. Most notably is the damn truck key which with out we aren't able to take the stuff we've unloaded onto friends to them.

I'm beginning to wonder if we have a dog who likes to bury keys! But The truth is I'm sure that they have just been misplaced. ANd we will spend the next few days searching.

my unnatural fear not so unnatural

"Alvarado Middle School Student Died July 22 in Las Vegas

UNION CITY (Tuesday, July 29, 2008) * Friends and community members
have set up a memorial fund for the family of Catlynne Shaw, an Alvarado
Middle School student who died July 22 , six days after her heart
stopped while she was riding a roller coaster in Las Vegas.

Catlynne, 12, suffered an apparent heart attack while riding the Canyon
Blaster roller coaster at the Circus Circus Adventuredome on July 16.
She was revived with the help of an off-duty firefighter waiting in line
for the ride, and was taken to University Medical Center, where she died
last Tuesday. Officials said it could be several weeks before a cause of
death is determined.

Catlynne, who attended Eastin Elementary School, had just finished
sixth grade at Alvarado Middle, where she was a straight-A student. Her
brother, Stephen, also attended AMS. The family was in Las Vegas because
the children*s grandfather had died the previous week, their mother
said.

Services for Catlynne were held in Las Vegas, where she was buried. The
family now plans will move to Las Vegas, her mother said.

A memorial fund has been set up at Bank of America, 1900 Decoto Road,
Union City. Contributions can be made to the Catlynne Shaw Memorial
Fund."

Gilroy Gardens

Thanks to our Great America passes, we also get entrance to Gilroy Gardens. Its a park aimed at much younger kids. But what makes the park really enjoyable for adults are the incredible gardens. We drove down with our neighbor and her grandson, arriving at opening. One of the first rides we went to was one of those big ships that sway side to side. Usually at the bigger parks these go upside down, but this one didn't so I figured I was safe. and I was good for the first few swings and then we were completely 90 degrees up when I lost it screaming stop. Since we were the only people on it the girl actually listened and hit the breaks - but it took another 2 swings before we were low enough for my heart to start beating again. When we got off I apologized to the girl running it. I should know better - I 'm a big chicken. My neighbor offered to ride it with Megan since she still wanted it and that when we found out by hitting the breaks the ride now needed to be reset and maintenance was called - it would be 20 mins or so before the ride would be operational!

We headed off and Megan and Mrs Darlene did all the roller coasters, Trevor and Megan enjoyed the water play area, and we had a really dreadful lunch that the hornets wanted to eat more than we did. Really it was a great day - and after a drive home, we arrived to discover some really yummy homemade pizza thanks to Jack.

Megan waiting in line - very excited.

Megan trying to make a baby ride more exciting that it actually is.

Trevor and Mrs Darlene on the sky ride that goes through the butterfly house - however no actual butterflies were seen - probably because every door was propped open as we entered and exited. This photo was taken so that I could email it to Trevor's mom.

Camping

My playgroup mom's and I decided we had so much fun last year camping, that we would would not only do it again but for 2 nights (since shlepping all the supplies and setting up is enough work for 1 day. We decided on the same campground which is just lovely , big redwoods in a cellphone blackout zone (no matter who your provider is!). Fewer banana slugs then last year since we were sans rain.

With the extra day we had time to play around the campground, and explore the park. We hiked to the creek and planned on swimming until we actually touched the water - which was ice cold. Megan undeterred, decided to swim anyway, while most of the other kids played with rocks and just got in a short way. We also enjoyed some great food. We were organized this year (thank you Jen!) so meals were doled out.

Here's our pics - Not the greatest and for some reason I never had the camera in my hand so only a few.

one our friends tents looking
toward the bathhouse.

This is our tent.

all the kids at the oldest tree.

sweet Esha!

At the Creek.

Megan Swimming in Icewater!

walking back after swimming

DS Time AKA quiet time.

Fun at night with Glowstring

Happy Campers!

Can't wait till next year!

Best thing since sliced bread

We've been buying at great expense fresh squeezed OJ at the farmers market and when we got a bad batch I was turned off to it. But going back to the store bought pasteurized stuff was just not working. None of us have drunk any of that. so On an impulse last week I bought a little citrus juicer. and this morning I cracked it open along with the 10 lb bag of oranges we got at the same booth at the farmers market and wow - incredible. Megan drank 2 glasses. - we all did . so easy too - really took very little time cut them open and juice each half. I could see doing it almost every morning.

Next I'm going to juice so lemon juice for some fresh lemonade - yummy

Happy Birthday My Man Jack!

Jack is 40 today. He's already gone to bed but I think he had a pretty good evening. And the festivities continue tomorrow - we are meeting a bunch of friends at a restaurant. The kids (Megan and some friends kids) will decorate a cake while we're at dinner. Tonight Jack Megan and I went out to dinner and then came home for presents. Earlier Jack had a massage while Megan and I went and saw Journey to the Center to the Earth - which she just loved. Only the T-Rex really freaked her out and that is a short scene. She loved the 3D effects and it was so much fun watching her.

The Police, quick visit, and illness..

Jack and I went out with friends on Monday night and enjoyed the Police with Elvis Costello who opened. Honestly I don't know Elvis that much, the one song I knew was when Sting came out and sang with him and damn if I wasn't in line for the bathroom when that happened!

The concert was at Shoreline probably the nicest big venue concert arena. We sat on the cheap seats or lawn seating. Sting announced during the concert that we were 12,000 strong - which seemed a bit big to me but the web site says they can hold 22,000 so maybe he had it right.

We got there early and enjoyed a picnic dinner during Elvis's opening ...

Jack

Our friend Joe

Then when the Police started - everyone stood up - here's a shot of the crowd - before dark - non of my other picks really came out (all cell phone shots)

The next morning I fully intended to wake up and blog about the concert, but I woke up not feeling my best. I headed out though and picked up my brother David from the airport and drove with him and Megan up to SF where we had lunch at Gordon Birch on the Embarcadero before I dropped him at his hotel. He really only had a small window to see us and as it turned out so did I.

Photo by Megan
Uncle David and Megan

By the time I got home I knew something was wrong. I crashed and slept for 3 hours straight woke up long enough to take my temp and discover I had a 102 fever. I lived on ginger-ale and soda crackers for the next day with violent stomach contractions and pleading for either death or at least to throw up. But in the middle of last night the fever finally broke, and I finally managed some real food today. I felt so great during the concert and less than 24 hours later I felt so incredibly sick - amazing how quickly things can overwhelm.

that yearly thing...

Last week while Megan was in camp I had my yearly checkup. The doctor included a bunch of tests which left me waiting at labs and at radiology and not doing the 3 movies and a massage I'd promised myself for the week of camp. I did manage 1 movie and a 15 min reflexology foot massage (that actually left bruises on my feet!)

On the plus, I'm all clear. Each year when I go in I have about a month of just trepidation and fear, since my mom had ovarian cancer. I can't help but worry even when I know I shouldn't. This year my CA125 was normal, my pelvic ultrasound was normal and so where the other tests to check my thyroid and my hormone levels. I'm still waiting to hear about the mammogram which was an experience. Well not the whole squeezing your boob into a vice and holding your breath - it hurt like hell but nothing I'll be terrified of. But the Radiology place scheduled my pelvic ultrasound for after my mammogram, and had me drink 40 oz of water to be completed an hour before my ultrasound. So I did as ordered and arrived for the mammogram already uncomfortable (it was 20 mins before the ultrasound appointment). They got me in for the mammogram right away with a comment like we'll get you in so you can get to the ultrasound appointment. When I finished the mammogram I was at a point where I couldn't sit down - my bladder hurt that much. So I stood - hovering over the receptionist and she assured me I would be seen right away. My appointment time arrived and still I hadn't been called back. I went up to the girl and said "HOW MUCH LONGER???..." she assured me it would be soon.

At 5 mins past my appointment time I made her call back and she informed me that they were just finishing up with an OB appointment and they would be out to get me. I could she said empty my bladder a little bit if I wanted - yeah right - I knew once I started the flood gates there was no closing them so I said no and went back to the wall I was holding up.

At 15 mins past my appointment I went up and said that it - I want you to reschedule me - i'm going to go now! The girl made another call back and said they were on their way. At this point I could barely walk. But I did - heading back to the ultrasound tech where I allowed them to press down on my very pained very full bladder while they measured my organs. This was hell. But peeing after - such sweet relief.

The kicker was that for the rest of the day - my bladder didn't trust me - and if it started to fill it would send me urgent messages even when I really didn't have to go - but the tests were normal so I guess 1 day of misery is worth knowing that.

1 thing about my doctor - after he delivered Megan I always meant to send him a picture of him with her. You know that classic doctor holding the baby pic. I never did and each time I went in to see him I had guilt - Guilt when I saw all the other pictures up on the walls of all the other babies he delivered. Guilt no more - I parked behind the office building, next to the dumpster and found ...

showing off...

When I was pregnant and hoping for a girl, I didn't realize i'd have to be come an expert in beauty and hair. I've learned how to do french braids, by a book and by practice. Here's my best effort to date!

Very satisfying...

Tonight at 6, we just started wondering about what was for dinner. Jack's been under the weather the last couple of days so I didn't want to just make anything - I wanted to see what he felt like. He decided he could do Pasta, so I agreed. I went out to the garden to get some tomatoes for a salad and some basil for the sauce. Our Basil is amazing - due to our heat wave - its really been taking off. We're usually so cool that we don't get huge basil plants. Anyway - I picked a whole branch and headed in. I didn't really feel like tomato sauce. So I decided I'd make pesto for me and mix the pesto with some tomato sauces for Jack and Megan. I had Jack pick some more tomatoes so I could mix them in with the pesto and pasta for me - and wow - so yummy. Jack and Megan gobbled up their dinner to so I think we had a winner. I have a whole jar of pesto in the fridge left over too - yum

I love picking fresh from the garden and cooking incredible food on a moments notice.

BORED!

I'm bored with my usual internet haunts - anyone have any great web sites they enjoy checking out????

Random Thoughts

Driving from Megan's camp to our pool the last 2 days I've been driving down Mission Blvd in Hayward, which is one of those stretches of road full car lots both used and new. I've been amazed that a lot of the lots are full of SUV's. Didn't the used car dealers see the writing on the wall - I can't believe they have been buying them up, because with gas around 4.60 a gallon - no one wants to drive them.

I have noticed that those that are still driving SUV's are driving more and more with their windows down - Like that will bring them fuel efficiency!

In less than 4 hours

Last night I took a class in wire wrapping - this is a part of jewelry making. I took an earing making class a while ago but this was really a natural extension of that. Anyway in the 3 hour class last night I made a necklace (1 hour of instruction followed by 2 hours of actually doing it) and then this morning I woke up and made the earrings and the bracelet to match .

Here's a picture of the final set... (iphone quality)
All sterling silver with Rhyolite big beads and the little brownish orange ones are glass.

damn our neighbors...

The 4th is 2 nights away - its not tonight, its not tomorrow - its in 2 nights and yet they insist on setting off their damn firecrackers now. and so I have to run the a/c to block out the noise - and give poor Oso who is beside himself some valium. We'll likely have to drug him all weekend.