Balboa Park - San Diego

November 22, 2009
Today we went to Balboa Park which is next to the San Diego Zoo. http://www.balboapark.org/. We walked around the park and had lunch and then watched a performance at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion. Here is some information about the organ "John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition. This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables." In the photo is me, Isaac (in the stroller) and Ben with Zach. My friend Jamie was taking the photo. After spending time at the park we headed over to Coronado Island to see the Hotel Coronado. It is an amazing hotel right on the beach. We got there at sunset and took some really great photos. The historic hotel is defiantly a sight to see and I'm glad that I was not the one who had to drive us across the long bridge to get to the island!

To San Diego, CA (Vacation)

November 21, 2009
I flew into Phoenix, AZ very late Friday night. My friends and I were on a mission to take a vacation and we decided that San Diego would be the perfect spot. We got up Saturday morning, packed the car and hit the road. Along the way we passed several cattle farms which I didn't know existed in the southwest. The big difference between SW cattle farms versus the ones in Nebraska is that the in SW the cattle have shelters with fans. The heat is pretty bad down there in the summer so the cattle get some comfort having shade. They are pretty big operations down there and you will know when you pass one because the smell is pretty strong. We also passed some sand dunes. The dunes went on for miles and there were several people camping with their dune buggies along the interstate at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. We were very close to the Mexico boarder traveling along I-8. We could see the boarder fence and we were stopped at 3 boarder check points along the interstate. We didn't have any problems at the check points but stopping traffic along the interstate does create a bit of a back-up. I am still grateful for their efforts. There was a sign at one of the check points with statistics stating how many pounds of drugs they have seized etc... It was pretty amazing. We finally pulled into our La Mesa, CA hotel around 5:30pm, unpacked and then headed out to dinner. Overall the travel day went very well and the two kids (Isaac and Zach...with an h :) ) handled the long ride very well.

More Signs

November 18, 2009

Today I found another sign along Blue Ridge Parkway. It is similar to the other one I posted but I think this one is even better. Apparently someone had time to change the design of the sign so they have different curves that the biker gets to fall off of. I think this one is "better" because he is really going over the side and on the other sign he just had his hands up in the air but the road was still underneath him....weird. I had to post it so you can compare and see what I mean.

Today I had envisioned some quiet time at home after work with no rush to really do anything. Nothing ever turns out as I plan. Rather than getting to come home I spent 2 hours in urgent care. After my hand shakes wouldn't go away (but my blood sugar tested fine) and a few other symptoms I decided I'd better not risk it. Turns out I have low blood flow and am dehydrated and I think I have some kind of infection but nothing that looks to be the flu (either strain) so I guess I'll take it. Just once I'd like to spend some time at home without getting sick...not this time. It could be worse though...I don't think it is anything a few days time won't cure (finger's crossed).

Another Denver Snow Storm

November 15, 2009

It started to snow around 4pm on Saturday and kept snowing until Sunday afternoon. I was out of town for the first big Denver snow storm of the year but this time I wasn't so lucky. Attached is a photo I took from my porch...not the best photo but it shows about 7 inches. It was still snowing when I took that photo. I guess November is Denver's 2nd snowiest month. I'm sure all of this snow will be melted in a couple of days. That is one great thing about Denver's weather, if you don't like it wait a few hours.

Friday the 13th

November 13, 2009
So I made it through most of the day not really realizing that it was "Friday the 13th". I got home and was grabbing a glass out of the cupboard and as I grab one another one falls out! Yep, into pieces on the counter and on the floor. It is rare that I break a glass but I'll leave it to my luck to happen on Friday the 13th!