Category: vacation

Since I’ve been going non-stop since I stepped off the plane last Thursday, I am taking a break today and I’m doing… NOTHING at least until Sharon gets off work. I also was in a desperate state with my laundry, so I’m taking care of that today, too.

Yesterday, Sharon’s mom took me to a Sacramento River Cats game. The River Cats are a AAA minor league team that feeds into the Oakland Athletics organization. I am having trouble getting the homepage on here, but you get the idea.

Center Field at Raley Field

It doesn’t rain in central California between Easter and Thanksgiving, so it was a bright, clear, sunny day. I was slathered in sunscreen and had my trusty hat on. Our tickets were on the front row down the third base line. The kids that were with us were instructed to tell us to DUCK if they saw a ball coming our way, because I kept losing the ball in the sun.

Midway through the game, I felt so hot and I felt my skin burning through my clothes so I got up and walked around in the shade. I was soon joined by Sharon’s mother, Sharon’s niece, Paige, and nephew Daniel. Paige brought her glove with her and cousin Daniel bought her a River Cats bat for a souvenir.

I walked around and talked to the ushers and other people who worked there. This is the nicest minor league ball park I’ve ever been to. There are no seats in the outfield, but there is a hill where you can put down your blanket and sit.

You can see the Sacramento bridge from the ballpark. It is GOLD as in the Golden State.

We finished the day by going over to Sharon’s parents and having some grilled tri-tip beef and enjoying the company. At 9:28 we went outside and saw the space shuttle and space station racing across the horizon, which was so awesome. The sky was clear and I found myself wanting to wave at the shuttle. lol

I’m going to go check on my laundry…

Today was San Fran day. My cousin and I boarded the CalTrain from Sunnyvale to San Francisco about 8:15 this morning. We had a great talk on the way in and I realized just how much I miss talking to him. He’s a great guy! He took time out of this morning to get me from the CalTrain to the MUNI train that would get me to Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf to meet Meg.

Meg took me on a bus tour that gave me a great overview of San Francisco. We saw all the highlights: TransAmerica building, Lombard St., Cannery Row, etc.

We stopped in Chinatown and walked up and down the streets peeking in shop windows.

We passed by Lombard Street on the tour and later, as we headed out of town, we happened upon Lombard street again, so we actually drove down.

It was windy by the Golden Gate Bridge:

Afterward we went to Golden Gate Park and walked through the botanical gardens and saw some amazing flowers.

Tomorrow, I am going with Sharon’s mom and nephew and some kids to a minor league baseball game, so I’d better get to bed. Hopefully, Thursday will be a down day. I’ve packed a lot into a few days!

And finally, the funny sign of the day:

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A brief post about my weekend. After Tahoe on Friday, Saturday, we spent the day driving to Sharon’s uncle’s place in Felton.

We had a visitor:

banana slug

The back yard:

The rest of the weekend, including Monday, I spent with my cousin, his wife, and their 13 month old daughter, my aunt, and my uncle. A good time was had by all. Monday, my aunt took me and the baby to Stanford to see where my cousins went to school.

Memorial Church at Stanford:

Later that night, Daddy gave the baby ravioli. She was covered in pasta sauce! I had a great time visiting my family and was sad to leave Tuesday morning.

NEXT: San Francisco…

Today started early, but it was well worth it. After I get back from vacation, I’ll post more of the beautiful pics I was able to take today. I took more pictures than I have ever taken in one day.

This morning was cool and we drove to Lake Tahoe with the top down on The Cruiser. Not a cloud was in the blue sky and when we got to Lake Tahoe, it was a cool 72 degrees.

We went up to Heavenly via the gondola. Sharon has an issue with heights and so does Sharon (lol) so this was an adventure.

The gondola to Heavenly:

On the way to the top of the mountain, there are two stops. The first stop gives you views like this:

And this:

Once at the top of Heavenly, there are trails and in the winter, there is skiing. Up the trails a little ways we found a patch of unmelted snow from a recent spring storm. Of course, I went a little crazy, then became inspired to create Fritz Schneitmann (Snowman).

Fritz inspired others. People were taking pictures of Fritz as we made our way back down to the gondola. He was melting fast, but in his short life, he made quite an impression. 🙂

We drove around Lake Tahoe to Emerald Bay. It was so beautiful and the name was apropos.

I also managed to get through a sunny day at high altitude without a sunburn. 🙂

Well, I finally made it! I got up at 5:46 AM and we were on the road by 7:07. I was so tired, I was standing in the kitchen wondering what I was supposed to remember, and finally I caught sight of my bagel. After I ate, I was more alert. lol

We made it to the airport by 7:45 and I was through security by 8:05. I checked in by computer last night, and had my boarding pass when I got to the airport. I HIGHLY recommend this way of checking in. It was incredibly fast and efficient.

Just for your information (which would have been helpful to the family in front of me) when the TSA agent says your carry on liguids must be in a clear, plastic bag, he does not mean a cute, green bag with holes in it shaped like daisies.

I boarded the plane at 8:40, and asked God to give me nice, well behaved traveling companions. God surrounded me on all sides by teenagers fresh from a mission trip to Peru. They were so excited, telling me about the dry area they were helping to greenhouse and how they were so thrilled to help these people build this system that will help them have shade and water for years to come.

Then the talk amongst them went to how they looked forward to showers with consistent water pressure, and water that wouldn’t shut off while they still had shampoo in their hair. In fact, I heard the word, “shower,” several times during that flight.

One of the girls behind me asked the young man sitting next to me (looked like Mitchell Musso from Hannah Montana) to pass her the Pringles… and to her delight, it was a can purchased in Peru, with the label written in Spanish.

“I am going to keep this can!” she exclaimed. “It will always remind me of Peru!”

And so it went until about fifteen minutes into the flight when all the teenagers pulled out their I-Pods and went to sleep (they had a red-eye flight from Lima to Houston).

At 1:07 we landed, and Sharon was waiting for me at the bottom of the escalator, surrounded by the families of the teen mission group. Again, heard the word, “shower” many times.

Everybody, meet Sharon:

Sharon and I went to Tio Pepe’s for lunch and then came to her house and chilled. After a few hours, I felt the jet lag hit me and so we went out for dinner at China Village.

Then we went cruising in The Cruiser:

And now, we’re home chillin’ until her husband, Thomas, gets home from work. It’s almost midnight in Houston and we’re getting up early to go to Lake Tahoe, so I don’t know how long I’ll last. Fortunately, it will be nice and cool in Tahoe tomorrow!

With the aid of some Tylenol PM, I am going to bed.

I am 3/4 packed. It pretty much just needs zipped up. 🙂

Are you wearing your prayer underwear?

Good night!

I’m still packing, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a train that’s going to kill me. There’s good news.

Jene’ is very tired, and she came in to check on my progress (my goal is to be in bed by 11 – ha ha). I was putting a pair of undies in my backpack should I be separated from my luggage for more than a few hours.

I was telling her I was packing a pair of underwear in my backpack and she stared at me, then told me I could pray in whatever underwear I had on. Apparently she heard me say I was packing prayer underwear.

We haven’t had a Sprint moment like that in ages.

Back to packing.

Preliminary packing shows that 2 suitcases will be needed. Thanks to Nancy Mon for the offer of a bigger suitcase, but I think I’ll be better off with the two smaller ones. When I stay with my cousin I will be taking some public transportation and one smaller suitcase will be of good use.

Jene’ may be onto something with this thinking ahead stuff.

Jene’, ever staying on top of things, has reminded me I wanted to be packed by tomorrow night (thus making Wednesday night as painless as possible). So, I did some laundry and pulled out my suitcase and Febreezed it (Freshness Lovers Spray On!) and realized the suitcase is much smaller than I had remembered. After seeing my rather small suitcase, Jene’ suggested this pack-it folder. I may get one, but even after seeing this nifty gadget, I’m not certain I can get it all in one suitcase. I know Jene’ can fit it all in my suitcase regardless of whether we have said gadget or not. The problem is I have to be able to replicate the packing perfection to be able to make the trip back to Houston… and let’s face it, there’s a reason she’s in charge of packing.

It doesn’t help, either, that while I was pondering said purchase (that will lead me to packing perfection) that my 2 year old cell phone started to freak out. I keep trying to add my cousin’s cell # into it and well, the phone is taking exception to me entering anything. It’s been doing this for a week now, so I know I’m on borrowed time.

I had planned on replacing the phone AFTER vacation, but it appears now that the pack-it folder may have to give way to a cell phone purchase. Of course, I have a big credit for a phone upgrade, but it’s still going to cost a little bit.

Jene’ has also reminded me I can’t spend my 3 hour 50 minute flight entering cell phone numbers in my phone. Continental would most likely frown on that.

Drat.

Tomorrow night after work, I am going to the Sprint store.

I have 61 hours until I get on a plane and a very small suitcase…