Category Archives: travel

a long weekend in Houston

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We spent this past weekend (Thursday-Monday) in Houston visiting the boys grandparents and great-grandmother. The trip went smoothly except for weather-and-maintenance delays getting out of Houston on Monday (it was a 10:30 am flight, we didn’t leave until 3 pm).

We got into Houston late Thursday evening, and saw the Grandparents Trudell and Great-Grandma Oma first thing Friday morning. Friday we took the ferry at Bolivar and had lunch on the Bolivar peninsula. Oliver loved the ferry ride and seeing all the boats.

Saturday we had a lovely morning at the park, followed by lunch our favorite greek deli and cafe. Saturday afternoon, friends stopped by for tea and cake (Oma made a fabulous cake… I need to get the recipe).

Sunday morning we had breakfast at Panera with a long-time church friend, followed by church, lunch with more church friends, and an afternoon with yet more friends. We had dinner at Tookies (previous site of my rather sedate bachelorette luncheon).

Monday morning we said good bye to the grandparents and Oma, returned our rental car, got to the airport, checked in, got through security and then started getting updates about how our flight would be delayed… and then delayed again, and then delayed some more.

Both flights were fairly uneventful. On the return flight, the men in the row behind us complimented us on our boys good behavior (we’d tired them out in the airport), and one of the guys on the van back to the long-term parking lot mentioned he’d never seen a baby crawl as fast as Patrick.

The boys had a good time and Oliver is looking forward to flying back to visit “Tom-ah” (Thomas the Cat), “Omo” (Oma), “Ganma!” and “Ganma’s friend” (my parents) again soon.

Photos will be forthcoming as soon as I can get them off my phone onto my computer without crashing iPhoto.

Tuesday in Santa Cruz & Carmel

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O's ready for action armed with his sippy cup & otter

This morning we prepared for an adventure: we planned to go 17 mile drive, spend the morning in Carmel, have lunch, and then go to the Aquarium. We headed out early, drove around Cannery Row, and along some scenic coastline, then one hundred yards into 17 mile drive, we realized the clacking noise we’d heard earlier was coming from our tires.

So much for that.

By 10 am we were at the local Goodyear Tire place, where they told us they could not patch the tires, and then tried fervently to convince us to buy two new tires, one for the damaged one and one to replace one of the other rear ones so they’d wear evenly, be safer, etc. Total cost, a little over $300.

Testing out tires at the Goodyear in Pacific Grove

We got new tires last week. They’re the Big O brand Euro whatevers and they come with a 3-year warranty, so we drove to Santa Cruz (where the nearest Big O Tires was). Over twenty miles with a driver’s side rear tire full of nails.

If we made it to Santa Cruz we could get the tire fixed, for free. As long as the car drove, it was safe to drive to Santa Cruz. If we got a flat (instead of just a tire fully of nails) we could change it (ourselves), or if we were with in five miles of Big O we could call AAA and have them tow it (the first 5 miles are free).

We made it to Santa Cruz without major incident (the tire pressure light turned on, but it is inhabited by gremlins). We went 50 miles an hour, and often a bit slower. We angered the drivers behind us with what they perceived to be our over-cautious driving style, but we made it there safely.

With the new tire we found a place on the Wharf to have lunch. The food was good, but the over all experience was unmemorable. After lunch, we set about our original day’s plans: going to Carmel.

After a five hour detour, we found ourselves back on 17 mile drive heading to Carmel. We stopped at several scenic spots, took photos, and walked around. After about three or four stops, Oliver had really had enough of the in-and-out of the car and he made this quite clear.

Almost 5 years later, we've added a baby to the 17 Mile Drive Photo & Gavin continues to stand uphill

I suspect the sales staff at the galleries we visited are accustomed to a slightly different budget from their mid-week window shoppers. After perusing Sur La Tabe, we visited Tiffany’s, several galleries, Tumi, a rug store, and some children’s clothing botiques. Sadly we simply don’t have $500 to spend on a custom bronze statuette, or $2300 for a new rug for our living room. The purse I liked didn’t come in the color I loved, and I also can’t justify spending $60 on any one article of clothing for Oliver. Ever.

Photos of our adventures can be found at Kindli’s Picasa – Monterey Vacation 2010, and as soon as I can upload video there will be stuff on YouTube.

O’s 3d trip to Houston

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This past weekend Oliver, Gavin & I visited my parents in Houston. Heidi and Matt have a post and some photos of the trip on their blog See Trail.

Our trip started at SFO, where Oliver was quite excited by the ramp from our gate up to the TSA check point, men’s bathrooms and exit of no-re-entrance. He would only go up the incline, then complain bitterly when he was not allowed to bolt to the nearest exit/door/security check point.

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Oliver & Gavin walk at SFO

Thankfully, we had uneventful flights and the weather in Houston was very nice. We visited with my parents, Oma, Heidi and Matt.

Oliver picked the weekend to cut two new top teeth, and I accidentally picked the weekend that Daylight Saving Time kicked in. Oops there. Continue reading →

Flying & Other Firsts

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Everyone gives new-mothers the same advice when flying: “Give the baby something to suck on during take off and landing.” “Have a boob, bottle, or pacifier ready for when they have ear-pressure problems.”

Then there is the more exciting advice: “If you have to spend the entire flight in the bathroom looking at the pretty baby in the mirror, that’s what you do.” 

And the most practical advice: “Sit near the engines, the noise and vibrations will help them sleep, and if they fuss they won’t be able to be heard over the engines anyway.” Continue reading →

Give thanks at Easter

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In addition to being grateful for a wonderful family, caring husband, and adorable son, I would like to express my thanks for the man in the white Ford F-150 this evening. 

On our way home from Palo Alto this evening we noticed the tire pressure light was on. We didn’t think much of it and decided to check it out on Monday, that was until it started making odd noises. The odd noises continued as we exited 101 for the Golden Gate Bridge, so we pulled onto a side street to check out the situation.

The rear tire on the driver’s side was completely flat. Gavin was astounded that I hadn’t felt any difference in the car’s handling -admittedly I was pretty shocked myself- up until the last 200 yards or so, aside from the increasingly loud odd noise, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

After debating wether or not we should call AAA (we decided not to), we set about emptying the trunk and getting the spare tire and jack out. It was getting chilly and dark, and neither of us were looking forward to the task. 

Several cars drove past, and one, a white Ford F-150 with a “baby on board” sign stopped in the middle of the road in front of us. A man got out and offered his assistance. His english wasn’t very good (neither was our spanish). He had a more efficient jack, and he obviously knew what he was doing. With a little assistance from Gavin, he quickly, expertly changed out our tire.

We thanked him profusely and asked if there was any thing we could to. He simply smiled, shook our hands and was on his way. 

I wish we could’ve done something more in return, words cannot express how grateful I am to him for his assistance with our tire this evening. 

 

Blog post & photos of the cheesecake and Oliver’s first Easter will be probably be posted tomorrow, we’ve had a long day.

“Early Christmas” in Houston

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I know I have promised lots of people that I would post more photos of the house. I will post more photos of the house, as soon as I take some, and the house is a little more cleaned up. I hope to have some up by the end of the week!

It didn’t snow while we were in Houston. Most of the snow had melted by the time we got there Thursday evening.

Our flight in on Thursday was most uneventful, Southwest will allow pregnant women to pre-board, so we took full advantage of that on the flights in. It was a little strange boarding with the elderly, extremely obese (those requiring 2 seats), and those with obvious physical impediments. We changed planes in Las Vegas and had lunch. They have slot machines in the Vegas airport, and the noise gets rather annoying.

Continue reading →

To Oregon & Back Again

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We’re back from Oregon (we drove up July 6), we got in Saturday afternoon and Nick picked us up @ the Santa Rosa airport. SR has a quirky little airport, I highly recommend flying into it at least once.

Our adventure started Sunday, when we stayed at a little motor lodge in Humbolt County. A family friend owned the motor lodge and was renting out most of the buildings to homeless people. They also own other properties in the area, and are working to help the community.

Monday we drove to Gold Coast, OR, over nighted in a lovely condo, and Tuesday we took one of Jerry’s Rogue Jet Boats up the river.

Tuesday night we arrived at the house in Waldport (between Florence and Newport). The next few days are a blur of car rides and napping. We visited the Aquarium in Newport, the dunes outside Florence and the bog with the bug eating plants (very cool).

Eventually I’m going to upload photos, and my FIL has promised to send me the ones he took as well.

we drove 800 miles and never left the state

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Abilene looked like an abandoned ghost town at 7:45 on a Sunday morning. The only sign that life might have once existed there was a plastic bag blowing across a parking lot. We were the only car for a good ten minutes as we worked our way to the highway.

On the bright side, there was no traffic until about an hour outside of Dallas so we racked up the miles. A grand total of over 800 in all.

We met Amanda and James for brunch at Bailey’s Breakfast Brunch Lunch not too far from the airport. They recently moved into a new apartment and Amanda was excited they’d “just” gotten a microwave.

At around 1:30 we dropped off our rental, took the shuttle to the airport and started the joyous process of going through airport security. At DFW they’re trying out a new method of air-poofing to test for explosives, and they have a new x-ray system where you can leave your liquids and laptops in their bags. The new x-ray system is nice, the air-poofing is a little strange.

About an hour or two we got to our gate a voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing that the flight was over booked and they were offering vouchers to people to take a later flight… which is how we ended up in Dallas this time.

Gavin and I looked at each other. Before I could say anything, Gavin said “No. No way.” So we flew back to SFO on our regularly scheduled flight, complete with Babies in Surround.

Dulce picked us up from the airport, and after dinner in Palo Alto, Gavin drove home. It was his turn to drive, after all, I’d driven the 800+ miles all over Texas.