This blog has moved

This blog is now located at __FTP_MIGRATION_NEW_URL__.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
__FTP_MIGRATION_FEED_URL__.

Just incase you are still visiting this blog, the new blog is located here: http://www.randomterritory.com/kd/

Road Trip

We talked about going on a drive at some point of the weekend. Marc has wanted to drive around the Bay for awhile and since we didn't really have plans for the weekend, we thought it might be a great weekend for a road trip. Friday I came home with a debilitating headache and went to bed around 6:30. I woke up around 7 a.m. feeling much better. I did a little sewing then decided to wake Marc up. We went out for crepe's for breakfast then took off for Half Moon Bay. As we descended the costal mountains, the road was surrounded by pumpkin farms and fresh produce stands. Autumn! It feels like autumn in San Francisco, weather wise, but besides a few bushes here and there, the fall colors are nonexistent. We continued into town and it was very charming. It reminded us of the small towns in Door County. We stopped and shopped for awhile. Empty handed, we continued down highway 1. 

We took Highway 1 North of San Francisco and on our honeymoon and I was gripping the door handle most of the trip. Not only were the roads winding and steep, they were narrow and the lack of guardrails only contributed to our nervous feelings as we inched up the coast. In contrast, Highway 1 South is wide. It, too, has beautiful views of the Pacific, but it is not winding and even has guardrails on the steep cliffs. We pulled off on several overlooks to take pictures and breathe in the salty air. We were intending on taking Highway 1 for awhile then shooting over to San Jose' before looping around on the bay side. We reached the turn for San Jose', but we were enjoying the drive, so we decided to keep going. 

Santa Cruiz was the next major town we hit and we decided to pick up some picnic supplies. We gathered a few items then headed down to the beach. Unfortunately, we couldn't find a place to park. The beach was lined with a boardwalk on one end and an amusement park on the other. It seemed like a lot of fun, but the crowds were not what we were looking for. We headed down the road and found a State Beach. We pulled off and enjoyed a shady spot right on the ocean. The beach had a large dock to walk on where fishermen and tourists enjoyed the beautiful ocean views. 

After picnicking, we decided we were so close, only about 30 miles to Monterey, that we should continue down highway 1. It was a beautiful drive around Monterey Bay to the city of Monterey. We arrived around 4 and found the visitor center. Marc said we should just wear the same clothes tomorrow and stay overnight. I said we should go shopping and by new clothes and stay overnight. I won out on that one. 

We found a hotel, went shopping for some clothes, deodorant, and tooth brushes. After shopping, we ventured down to cannery row, an old sardine factory, which is now a touristy shopping center right on the ocean. We stopped in a few shops, took some pictures, and found a place to eat. 

On Sunday morning we walked around Fisherman's Wharf then drove around the old downtown area. We decided to drive down to the famous Pebble Beach golf course which is on the underside of the peninsula. We drove around the the 17 mile loop which was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately my camera battery died shortly after we started the loop so we didn't get as many pictures as we would have liked to. It was beautiful and really how we pictured the Pacific: large waves, bright blue and green water, rocks, and endless sea. Beautiful. I looks different in SF. We decided to head home after our tour. We took the interior route so we could go through San Jose'. We even went through Gilroy, the garlic capital of the world. San Jose' was hidden mostly behind sound barriers that surrounded the highways barreling through California's third largest city. We decided to continue home and venture into the city on another day. 

We have a lot of pictures from the weekend which I will be posting soon. If (when) you come to visit, Monterey is only about 2 hours south and I don't think it would be difficult to talk Marc into going back.      

No Uncles

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready for the day. We are currently out of milk so my typical cereal meal was out. Looking around, I decided to cook up an egg. I finished cooking and put it on my plate when I noticed the counter looked like it was moving. ANTS! I was horrified and put my breakfast safely in the dining room. I squashed every one I saw. They were all over the counter and floor. We didn't have any food out. The kitchen was clean. We are not messy people! I finally decided to wake Marc up to help me. He found where they were coming in, the side door. He worked at cleaning them up there. After we had taken care of most of them, he showered and ran to the store to get some traps. Hopefully that will take care of them. Until then, we will be eating out! 

Summer in SF

We are finally experiencing our summer in SF. When we stepped into the outside air last night, it was warm and inviting. We didn't feel the humidity we experienced in the Midwest over the weekend, but it was warmer than any evening I could remember in SF. Today is simply delightful. The high by WP was 77! I was shocked when I turned on my car at lunchtime. It feels so good. One student said it was supposed to be 90 by the end of the week, but we shall see. It is odd to be much over 75 here. October is supposed to be the most beautiful month of the year here in SF. There are plenty of weekends (only the weekend of October 12 is filled with visitors) so if anyone would like to come out, this might be your chance to experience truly beautiful weather, even in the fog belt. Marc and I found tickets right around $99 one way through Southwest. They were direct flights and we even received snacks on the return flight! 

 

Home

I didn't blog about my trip home because it was a surprise to our friend, Miguel. Marc told me about six weeks ago that he wanted to come home in September to see his family and to surprise Miguel. I told him if he's going, I'm going. Miguel's birthday is on September 25, so Marc and some others arranged a surprise party for him. From the background noise I heard, it sounded like fun. As for me, I am spending time with my family in Illinois. I would have liked to have gone with Marc, but with such a short trip, it was important to me to see my family. I went shopping yesterday, visited my grandparents, and saw 5 of my little boys last night. They were playing school and we eventually had a keroke session in the kitchen using a hairbrush as a microphone. When we were driving up to see them I was worried that little Paul wouldn't remember me and the rest would go about playing. When I walked in, Daulty said, "You're back!" and we all had a great time. When I left, the middle three latched onto my legs and asked me to stay. They didn't forget me after all.

Pictures! (take two)

I took these pictures yesterday in union square. I decided to celebrate birthdays for my brothers and their wives early since they all fall between now and November 2. I ventured down to union square to Crate and Barrel. I can't believe there isn't one closer, but it was a nice drive (only about 15 minutes) downtown to the three-floor store. I would have taken more pictures but my camera was taking the highest res. pictures and I only fit 8 on my card! Marc is going to let me use his card until I get a bigger one.