Day Trips

Since neither child was in day camp this week, the weather was agreeable, and no forest fires threatened to stymie our travel plans, I managed to squeeze in a couple of day trips.

On Monday we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For some reason, I thought by going on a Monday I'd avoid some of the heavy crowds that plague that place in the summer time.
I was totally wrong.

No matter. We made the best of it... took our time. And in general, had a wonderful day. We even stayed and had dinner on the row. I'd tell you more about it... but I'm sure most of you have been, so I'll move on.

Yesterday we traveled to the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. Chabot is a hands-on center featuring interactive exhibits, a planterium, large screen theater, hands-on activities and three telescopes.

On the day of our visit all three telescopes were open.

This one, Leah, was fixed on the planet Venus.


Chabot is located high in the Oakland hills. I wish I had brought my camera to capture the views. I found this online image to give you an idea...
Although there were a few children's day-camp groups running around the center, it was not crowded, and for the most part, we had the place to ourselves. If you've never been, I'd encourage you to go. It's absolutely worth it.

The Big Question

"Where did we come from?" asked Andrew.

"Do you mean, where did you come from?" I tried to clarify.

I thought perhaps this was the "where do babies come from?" question... which I was totally prepared for... but I was wrong. Seems he had something bigger on his mind.

"No... I mean we, all of us, everyone... who was first?"

"Well....." And here I paused because I wasn't sure how to proceed. Not because I didn't know what to tell him, but instead how much to tell him. As I was trying to formulate a concise, scientific, kid-friendly explanation, Paul jumped in.

"Well Andrew... we come from monkeys. We have evolved from apes. Genetically, orangutans are our closest living relatives."

To which Andrew responded, "Huh?"

At this time, I should point out that this entire conversation was taking place in the car. I was driving. I don't know about the rest of you, but when I talk to someone, especially about big, important topics, I like to be looking at that person (in this case my son). I also like to have plenty of reference material on hand, better to make myself understood. And while I did agree with Paul's statement, I wasn't entirely sure it was the best place to begin.

"Paul, maybe you should explain evolution" I suggested.

"Well Andrew, let's say the weather gets colder and colder... and people begin to grew lots of body hair to stay warm.... that's evolution!"

Wrong.
Okay-- maybe I need to explain.

"Actually Andrew... it's more like... people who grow more body hair, through a genetic mutation, are more likely to survive if the weather, or the climate, becomes colder."

At this point, we arrive at our destination and the topic mercifully changes.

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Later in the week, Andrew, after taking a shower, says he sees hair growing from his arm pits. "Look dad... I'm evolving!"

Mad Men

As I was searching for a new "Drink of the Week" recipe... I found this interesting blog article.

"Drinking and advertising go hand in hand. It just does, that is the way it is. I’ll never forget the head of an agency, where I once worked, proudly displaying the kegerator he had just put in. Every Friday, we let ad sales people buy us a keg. Not a bad deal. Ad Age reports the resurgence of the in house ad agency bar.They have also put together a list of the best agency bars around. They range from full fledged, working bars to more of a regular happy hour. It also seems that having clients that sell booze inspire the best agency bars, as well they should."

See the entire article and list of Agency bars here.

Season 2 of Mad Men premieres Sunday, July 27 @ 10PM | 9C on AMC.
This show cannot go unwatched.

Flashback Friday

What Paul used to sing to me... way back when...


Maybe with some coaxing, he'll sing it to me again.

Scrapbooking continued...

In my last blog entry I may have indicated that I was wasting my time scrap booking.

Not so.

Actually, I really love working on my memory books. It's very rewarding. I'm happy knowing I'm doing my best to preserve my family photos and memories.

When I openly questioned, "Isn't there something more important I should be doing with my time?" I was wrong. I should not have asked such a thing. My feelings and emotions were misguided. I was suffering from a severe case of mother's guilt. I was really thinking, "Shouldn't I be doing something more important to fill my children's time?"

I don't know why, but every Summer I feel it's my primary obligation to keep my children's days happy, busy, and fun. Full of activities and new experiences. Play dates and day trips planned weeks in advance. Not a wasted ray of Summer sun.

I know. Completely unrealistic.

So...when I take those precious summer days and hours, and use them for my own personal gratification, I feel extraordinarily guilty. That is going to stop.

I will continue to work on my memory books and not feel guilty. Since my last blog post, I have completed the 12 x 12 Disney vacation book. I have just updated Audrey's School Days 12 x 12 and I continue to work on our "Family Yearbook" for 2008. (And if someone whose initials are M.G. would kindly give me copies of those beautiful 4th of July and Beach Day pictures- I will be totally caught up.... no rush...get 'em to me when you can...)

Next week I will update Andrew's School Days 12 x 12, his First 10 Years memory book (part 2) and finally I will update Audrey's First 10 Years memory book.

I've also got some weekend plans on tap for the kids.

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What: Animal Planet Expo
When: Saturday July 26 and Sunday July 27, from 10 AM to 4 PM
Where: Santa Clara Clara County Fairgrounds

"Animal Planet and Comcast invite everyone in the family, including the family pet, to explore the wonder of wildlife, and to celebrate the important role animals play on this planet. Animal Planet Expo enchants and entertains people nationwide, featuring such spectacular attractions as fur-raising stunts from high-flying Frisbee dogs, breathtaking exotic live animal presentations, and twists on classic games such as Pin the Tail on the Puppy and Plink-o."

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What: Founders' Day Fiesta-Fandango
When: July 27, Noon - 5 pm
Where: Peralta Adobe and Fallon House Site
175 West Saint John Street, San Jose

"Wanted – families to help celebrate the founding of San Jose. Hear stories about the founding of the Pueblo. Enjoy authentic singing and dancing of the Mission and Rancho period with the Alta California Orchestra and the Calicanto singers."

• Make your own candle and tortilla
• Learn to make a corn husk doll and a button whizzer
• Meet descendents of Pueblo Founders

A dream is wish your heart makes

The family with Tinker Bell.
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Spent most of the day scrapbooking.
How pathetic is that?
Really... Isn't there something more important I should be doing with my time?

Anyway.
The projects I am currently working on are Disneyland books.
(From our trip last October.)
One for my mother... an 8 1/2 by 11 size memory book (Done!)
And a 12 x 12 for me. Not done.

Some more photos from the book:

Face painting fun!
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Waiting for the parade to start.
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Over-priced character breakfast with...
Anyone? Anyone?
I'm guessing it's a raccoon... but who?

Flashback Friday

There is just something hauntingly beautiful about it...



Here are the lyrics (for those of you, like myself, who can't always figure out what the heck they are saying.)

You better love loving and you better behave
You better love loving and you better behave
Woman in Chains
Woman in Chains
Calls her man the Great White Hope
Says she's fine, she'll always cope
Woman in Chains
Woman in Chains
Well I feel lying and waiting is a poor man's deal
And I feel hopelessly weighed down by your eyes of steel
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps Woman in Chains
Trades her soul as skin and bones
Sells the only thing she owns
Woman in Chains
Woman in Chains
Men of Stone
Men of Stone
Well I feel deep in your heart there are wounds Time can't heal
And I feel somebody somewhere is trying to breathe
Well you know what I mean
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps Woman in Chains
It's under my skin but out of my hands
I'll tear it apart but I won't understand
I will not accept the Greatness of Man
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps Woman in Chains
So Free Her
So Free Her

42days till...

back-to-school.

But if you've been out shopping lately, you'd think "back-to-school" was tomorrow.
And that Halloween was next week.
And that Christmas was just 2 weeks away.

A scene from my life

Drink of the Week

I've heard through the grape vine that bourbon is the new rum.
Well, this recipe calls for whiskey, bourbon's close cousin.

Lynchburg Lemonade

1 cup ice cubes
1.5 oz whiskey
1.5 oz sweet and sour mis
1.5 oz triple sec
3/4 cup chilled lemon-lime soda

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and pour in the whiskey, sweet and sour mix, triple sec and lemon-lime soda. Stir with a straw and enjoy!

The drink name refers to Lynchburg, Tennessee... home of the Jack Daniel's Distillery makers of fine whiskey.

Family Hike

Today we take part in a Habitat Hike at the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.


According to the center rep, "we will learn about wetland and upland habitats that are human-altered. We will observe and identify plants, birds, and whatever other animals we see on this short and easy trek."

Hey, it's free.

Flashback Friday

Yes- there was a time in my life (100+ years ago) when I really wanted to be Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles. Wait a minute... that's not right...

I wanted to be a skinny girl, in a cute dress, in dark room with guy who looked a hell of a lot like Michael Schoeffling. (No cake required.)



And until I was researching this, I had no idea The Thompson Twins sung this song. I do however, have every idea that I really liked the band. A lot. Even saw them in concert. But, I don't remember them singing this song. I did have the soundtrack to Sixteen Candles, which only contained a fraction of the songs in the movie.

For a complete list of music played in the movie Sixteen Candles- go here. With complete scene by scene break down...someone has a lot of time on their hands.

Book Club

Tonight we discuss Kim Todd's book ...

Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis

"Metamorphosis has long fascinated humankind, but few people more than Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), who spent her life illustrating this mysterious process in insects. Merian grew up in Germany, married, had two daughters, left her husband to join a Labadist (pietist) community in West Friesland, moved to Amsterdam and, at age 52, traveled to Surinam to search for insects. Beyond that, little is known about this remarkable woman except for a few letters and her beautiful engravings and watercolors, most of them published in her books on insect metamorphosis. Todd (Tinkering with Eden) fleshes out her biography with colorful descriptions of Merian's world and the people she knew, emphasizing that she was as exceptional in her art as in her life. "

I'm not sure how well this book will lend itself to a lively book club discussion... but I'm willing to give it a try.

This was an incredibly difficult book for me to read. So difficult in fact that I didn't really read all of it. I don' think entomology is my *thing*.

If you're calling...

I'm not home.

I'm at Great America. I've planned a day visit with my South City friend Lori and her son M.

I plan to ride this...

and this.And if that doesn't cool me off-- perhaps this will.

New Chair

If all goes according to plan - which it rarely does- I will have this chair in my family room tonight.
I simply can't resist a nice, inexpensive piece of Mission Style furniture.

205 days till...

My 40th birthday.

The only person more shocked about this is my mother.

As we were talking about this, my mom remembered when her 40th birthday approached. At the time, she worked for a small electronics company. A 50 years plus male co-worker of hers, a twice divorced father two, shared his thoughts on the subject.

He said, "When you turn 40 you examine your life. You count your accomplishments. If you have a home, family, and good friends... you've made it. That's everything."

According to my mom, he said this in a sad, melancholy sort of way. She knew that he had lost all of these things. She cried hearing this because she knew she hadn't.

And as she told me this story a tear came to my eye. I have all of these things.

Mission accomplished.

Drink of the Week

I've recently been accused of lagging on the blogging-- curiously enough- by those that don't blog at all! (Ain't that the way?) So I've come up with another weekly blog topic... "Drink of the Week"

Last week was all about Rum and Mojitos. This week I'm all about:



FLORADORA COOLER

1 oz Lime Juice (I used up all my limes on Mojitos last week - so I used Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice instead)
1/2 tsp Simple Syrup (If your using the Rose's - don't bother)
1 Tbsp Grenadine
2 oz Gin
2 oz Club Soda or Ginger Ale (I used Club Soda-- more like 4 oz)

Stir first 3 ingredients in collins glass. Top with ice and add gin. Fill with club soda or ginger ale and stir.

Now what?

Reported last week:

"As many as 12,000 Starbucks workers will lose their jobs when the company begins closing 600 U.S. stores this summer. The Seattle coffee company is cutting 5 percent of its U.S. locations as part of a wide-ranging effort to boost its bottom line and its stock price."

So if Starbucks plans to close so many stores... what will become of all those storefronts? What types of businesses will replace them? I predict an explosion of dollar stores, juice bars, and nail salons.

Flashback Friday

Happy 4th of July!

Today's flashback is reader requested.



I'm not a huge fan of Billy Idol... never bought any of his albums or saw any of his shows.
Any chance of doing so was completely put out of my mind by the infamous Billy Idol/Donny Osmond publicity stunt photo.