California Day 15

Window problems - Packed and ready to go back to SF for our red-eye flight - we headed out for breakfast this morning. Matt, Mark, Lori and Dan were in Dan's Jeep. Chris and I decided to put the top down on the convertible one more time before it got too hot. I heard this loud POP! and knew that was not good. We put the top back up a bit to find the back window broken. We didn't really like this car anyway. We looked at each other in disbelief, said a few explicits and started cleaning up the mess. Turns out - Matt put the backpack in the storage behind the seats which caused the pop. He felt really bad. The funny thing was Chris thought I did it and I thought Chris did it for about an hour. We were both thinking Thank Goodness I didn't cause this. Then Matt came home and said he did it. We were both laughing at the situation.

So off to Budget to get a different car. Chris pulls out of Budget in the new rental car right into on-coming traffic. It was close enough for us to yell OH and not close enough for impact. Then we laughed half-way home about almost wrecking the car we had for 10 seconds. Then we laughed at the fact that we were laughing about broken windows and close calls deciding that if you spend 2 weeks in California without working, you really do become carefree and relaxed.

We wished we could have gotten a different flight pattern but unfortunately, prices were just too high so we were forced to take our return flight out of San Francisco. The drive up there gave us a chance to see more of California. Did you know they have a significant amount of cows there? And they make fun of us... Pictures don't do justice but there were acres and acres of wall-to-wall cows. We don't have that in KY.

Flight was uneventful - Mark slept from before takeoff to after landing, we woke him to get luggage where he immediately fell asleep in a chair waiting for it, woke him to walk to the car where he immediately fell asleep while waiting for it, put him in the car where he immediately fell asleep until we got home, carried him inside where he (you guessed it) immediately fell asleep for another 4 hours. I guess he'll do fine on the Thailand trip. Matt on the other hand became a little loopy - he slept most of the flight even though he says he didn't, asked me if I just wanted to hit Mark for being able to sleep everywhere while we were in baggage claim and again, while waiting for the car. Matt then slept all the way home and once we got home. The guy next to Chris kept leaning over using Chris as a pillow which I thought was hilarious. Chris not so much. I hope Mommy gear kicks in for me or the Thailand trip is going to be very rough. I could not have driven home from the airport without killing us. Kudos to Chris for being able to stay awake. My bed never felt so good.

Matt contemplating what he's going to do to Mark - hurry up luggage!
Mark sleeping on a cement bench and Matt pretending to sleep.

California Day 14

Too bad they didn't wear their UofL hats!

Eat-fest day - We started out with Starbucks and donuts and then drove to LA. My nephew Austin attends UCLA and lives in LA. We spent the day with him, hitting all his favorite hot spots. The sushi was fabulous and he had us try several things we wouldn't have been brave enough to do on our own. Diddy Riese, the cookie/ice cream dive with the very long line, was excellent. If we had not been stuffed from eating all day, I'm certain we would have had 2nds or taken cookies to go.

UCLA's campus is so beautiful. Matt met the football coach Rick Neuheisel, who talked with him a few minutes, gave him an autograph (To Matt, a future All-American) and Mr. Paparazzi didn't score a picture of the two of them. Coach Neuheisal gave him the autograph on the condition Matt come play for him in 10 years. I told Matt next time he has that offer from a school like UCLA, he needs to tell the coach he's ready to sign. I won't be able to afford that tuition unless my numbers come in.

We didn't spot any stars but we did spot some crazies - I mean it is LA, right? - the best, or maybe worst, was the guy at Aus' pool wearing the speedo with worn-out elastic (ugh - I didn't look away soon enough) and neon tanning bed goggles. Oh my - that was so awful. Thankfully, no picture of that either except the permanently damaged portion of my brain.

We ended the day with more Asian food which was great! Now we are going to explode!

California Day 13

I could not hold out any longer on shopping at Victoria Gardens. It is so pretty and the stores are so cool. My new favorite is West Elm - kind of a Crate and Barrel meets Pottery Barn but more modern look kind of place. Check it out online - http://www.westelm.com/

Lori and I spent the morning there and then we picked the boys up for one last In-and-Out burger. I think it's so odd that I love these burgers and really don't like burgers. My taste buds will miss that but my wasteline won't.

Chris and I drove around most of the afternoon dreaming of California living while the boys got their video game fix with Nick.

California Day 12

There's something about Downtown Disney. It's not the great dining or the cool shopping - it's more the atmosphere. We spent half the day here hanging out with Stephen and Jenn. The boys bought magic tricks and threw their hats down for their own street show. I told them I thought it would have worked in San Francisco.

We ran into beauty pageant contestants in their evening gowns. All the girls were ooh-ing and aah-ing over the real life "princesses". The contestants were very sweet to them, posing for pictures and giving autographs. We all laughed that in 2 years that will be us standing in line for fake princess autographs.

They talked Jenn into eating sweet and sour candy over and over to see her funny faces.

California Day 11

I think it's Tuesday - we are losing track and have to keep thinking about the date and the day. That is a great feeling.

Today Chris and I went house shopping - well not really - there are some new construction homes a block north of Lori and Dan so we walked through the models. They are so pretty. The bad news or good news, depending on how you look at it, is we can't afford them.

While we were out, we came across the intersection of Church and Hellman. I got a kick out of this so I had to take a picture.

We had a cookout complete with smores tonight. Mark even gave chef Dan the thumbs up.

California Day 10

Forgot to mention that I love In and Out Burgers - OMG - they are the best burgers and I hate burgers. We hit a great Yogurt place at Victorian Gardens or VG if you are cool - think it's called Pink Berry. It was very good. Also between Chad, Lori and Nick's iPhone - it's only a matter of time before Chris and I go buy one. They are so cool!
Just chilling mostly - how could we resist with this backyard?

California Day 9

Added pics from the last few days - oh how I love wireless internet.

What do you get when you mix Mark and floor to ceiling mirrors?

You're So Vain
I bet you think this blog is about you
You're So Vain
I bet you think this blog is about you Baby!





Matt and Mark can now check out the babes with their new sunglasses - thanks Uncle Steve and Stephen for teaching them 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 and not to turn all the way around to 6:00!

California Day 8

We had a barbecue today. All my cousins, a couple of friends and my Uncle Herb came over. It was great to see them all and catch up. We get to do this about every 2-3 years so it's a big deal to me as we just love all these people and have so much fun laughing with them.

This time I was able to spend more time with each of them as the kids were a little older.

No one was tossed into the pool!

Here's the pics - 4 of my favorite men!


You said what about my butt???
Aunt Cathie and Chadie

Jerry and Holly

No matter when we come - we celebrate Uncle Herbie and Stephen's Birthdays - I guess they don't celebrate them if we don't show up??

Jenn's cupcakes rocked but she also taught us the cupcake sandwich method - tear off the bottom and smush the icing. YUM

California Day 7

I'm so happy we are staying 2 weeks. Otherwise, we'd be very sad today.

We spent the day tooling around Seal Beach with my cousin Stephen and Jenn who we always have a blast with. Ate at Islands which was fabulous. We walked the Pier but the boys opted for swimming in the pool vs. the ocean so we headed back "home". They had a ball swimming insisting everyone else swim too. Uncle Steve took care of that - he threw just about everyone in the pool including me. Chris opted to jump in. The boys thought this was so funny. Of course, we've all been around enough to know this is typical and you don't go outside if you aren't willing to risk being tossed.

Boomers was a hit with the boys - nothing like playing miniature golf in the dark. Half their light bulbs were out.

California Day 6

This morning we head out to the beach at our hotel and find the movie set Damn Love. I ask a few questions and find out Denise Richards is in the film and she'll be on set today. This was kind of cool. Chris (Mr. Paparazzi) scored a great picture of her. She smiled and said Hi as she walked from the hotel to the set. We were a little star struck. Actually, I thought she was a lot taller and wasn't sure it was her. She was dressed as a bride so it didn't look like her from a distance. We watched for a bit but it's a slow process which involved a lot of waiting. The sun wasn't shining so they were hanging out a lot.
We headed to my Aunt Cathie and Uncle Steve's house and ate at a place called Train Wreck. Who names a restaurant that? A couple of my cousins joined us for dinner. It's always so much fun when we're together.

Uncle Steve pulled the old - look at my fish in the pool trick and then tossed the boys in. They were absolutely dumbfounded that a grown man threw them in the pool. Their faces were priceless.

California Day 5

We drove down the Pacific Coast Highway today. This was beautiful but so long and a little freaky (at one point I'm certain boards were reinforcing the side of the mountain which leads to the ocean...) so I think I checked it off life's list and it won't be repeated.

We also visited The Mystery Spot which is kind of cool. It's a spot where gravity doesn't quite work the same or magnetic forces seem to pull people in a different direction. Don't get me wrong - we weren't flying around or across the room but there were spots where you feel like you are standing up straight and actually leaning quite a bit to maintain balance. Kind of bizarre.

California Day 4

Chris thinks we're trying to kill him. Today we biked across the Golden Gate Bridge. Now that doesn't sound too hard until you consider the bridge is 4 miles from the bike shop. Then add the 2 mile bridge and 2-3 more to Sausalito and don't forget the hills. Oh yes - consider we are on tandem bikes so if rider #2 decides he's tired, rider #1 is biking an extra 45-75 pounds depending on the child. Then - oh you thought it was over - no stand in line for 1 1/2 hours to get a ferry across the bay and ride yet another 2 miles - All of that was into the wind! This leaves us asking What were we thinking??? And - check that off life's list - we never need to do that again. Since I'm too tired and sore to think, I'll leave you with the pictures. I have not decided if scoring the pictures was worth the pain we are already feeling!

California Day 3

Our legs are starting to scream at us. I can’t imagine how many miles we walked yesterday but we walked at least that many today and today we added a lot of hills. We are definitely seeing all SF has.

We took a taxi today and I’m fairly certain we got air at some points. The boys loved it.

We rented 2 person scooter cars and rode by the Golden Gate Bridge, through the city, up to Lombard (crooked street) and even rode down the crooked street. People were looking at our little cars and snapping pictures left and right. I kept telling Mark to smile and wave for their cameras. It was a lot of fun. Matt said he was so happy we did this. He loved it. Mark went from slow down Mom to open it up full speed Mom. We had step-by-step maps and the boys were our navigators reading the instructions. Mark is an ok reader so trying to figure out the street name was interesting for me.

Lombard (Crooked Street)
Coming down Lombard
We ate clam chowder (red and white) and itty-bitty donuts that I have been wanting since I first smelled them. All was great. Chris and Matt weren’t crazy about the donuts so I took care of those for us. Can’t let something that good go to waste.

One of the many birds here pooped on Mark’s head. He was not pleased. Once he showered, he pepped back up.
The night tour of Alcatraz was everything I always imagined. I have always loved watching the Escape from Alcatraz movie. How is it that these people are criminals in a federal penitentiary and yet, we find ourselves feeling sorry for them and cheering their escape. I don’t get it. I guess it’s because the movie doesn’t discuss their offenses. Hollywood is good. Seeing it in person, I didn’t feel sorry for them. We all enjoyed the tour. Matt and Mark would not walk into the cells without us but I don’t think the tour scared them.
Regular Cell - 5 feet wide X 9 feet deep
Solitary Confinement

Did I mention how cold it is? No? Well, we’re just trying not to think about it but by the end of the day, we are just frozen. You know how there’s a warm 60 – well that’s not here. It’s a cold 60. The wind is brutal but the sun did peek out through the clouds. The view as we left Alcatraz was great.