Ca-Li-FOR-ni-A! (It’s a Nation State)

January 23

We got out early to take Charlie to the zoo. Early means we have an hour of quiet before the crowds built up. Nancy missed Charlie’s birthday party a few weeks ago and wanted to take him out for a special day, and invited me (and my gps!) to come along.

There was a python in this room as big as four Nancys. Charlie was having a blast.

We got to see the feeding of the grizzly bears and it was a huge treat.

Up close and personal!

Charlie, a few weeks into being seven years old. He has watched every episode of every nature documentary available on dvd and is an expert on insects.

He told us many interesting facts about the animals we saw. Thanks Charlie.

The tiger, on the move.

Here’s Kelly with Baby Donald THREE due in Spring. Oh goodie!

Sandy came to the party too. We all, Sandy, Roger, Nancy, and I had dinner together and it was lovely.

Tomorrow morning Nancy and I drive back to Santa Barbara and then I drive back to LA. Talk about an Action Packed Trip!

There were about 10 kids at the festivity, the idea being to keep it to the 3 year olds and not have all the 7 year old siblings, which for the most part happened.

When it came time to whack the pinata the 3 year olds were trying their best but it took the 7 year olds to (un)seal the deal.

After checking into our sweet little two bedroom apartment in Noe Valley, we headed out to see Nancy’s son in his new space in Bernal Heights, the home of Josh’s very own Bernal Cutlery. Hurray Josh!

January 21, 2011

I drove up to Santa Barbara this afternoon to meet up with Michi for dinner and to sleep over at Nancy’s. Our plan, Nancy’s and mine, was to get up with the dawn and be on the road to San Francisco by 6am.

We didn’t make 6 but 7:15 isn’t that bad. . .

We took the 101 all the way. There are several of these grand art-works-displays every 50 miles or so. This is the only one I was ready for and how apropos, It’s Granny!

It was smooth sailing the whole way, lucky dogs that we are.

Then over to see her grandbabies Charlie and Henry, third grandbaby in utero. Awww.

Henry can make that thing GO!

We went for a walk to the local ice cream place, bought some supplies for tomorrow’s party, and went back for the evening’s activities in preparation for Happy Birthday Henry!

Then I buzzed over the Golden Gate Bridge (not-so-safe but gotta-do-it grab shot from the car)…

January 13 and 14

I slept over with Roger and Sandy and in the morning, after coffee and a nice breakfast, we went out for a walk around the lake.

The lake! It’s Lake Merced and right there in the city of San Francisco. This is the smallest section and an easy stroll from the Park Merced towers where R&S live.

You can see the towers peeking over the trees.

Hi cute people.

More.

Roger and his mom. Mom lives in the next door tower and is one of the reasons they made this move to San Fran, so Roger could keep an eye on her, do her shopping, take her to the doctor, see that she’s safe, while she can still live on her own.

The Park Merced/Park La Brea towers have held up over the many long years they have been in service. They are big apartments with big rooms, high ceilings, good windows – nice!

More.

…for a delightful evening-night-morning with Bob, Desda, and Shira. All is well with the Zuckermans – Bob is back to playing guitar every day and business is picking up; Desda has got a crew of folks anxious to help her put her ideas out in the marketplace; Shira is getting stronger and dedicated to a return to good health.

And then, I’m down the 101, to home!

hmmm…I did hit a lot of communities this trip: Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, Lake Merced, East Portal, Point Richmond, San Rafael, Novato, Larkspur…Fun!

From around Bruce and Claudia’s place.

We visited Bruce and Claudia at their new place, a lovely home in the hills of Point Richmond, and enjoyed lunch and an afternoon stroll not in their town but we took a drive into San Rafael.

This is the view from in front of their house, if you walk a little and peer a little through the trees, use the telephoto full out, and blow it up big in the computer…

We visited Sandy and Roger at their new place, the towers of Park Merced, and enjoyed lunch and an afternoon stroll in Sandy’s little town of West Portal.

nd.

January 11 and 12

Not so many pictures these last two days but plenty of fun!

We took various opportunities to walk around town.

That’s Josh in the foreground and Kelly in the background far left, entertaining their guests.

What a lovely park. It was all colors of green-green-green. But then it was wet too.

January 9, 2010

Here we are arrived at the classy and stylin’ two bedroom-bathroom-livingroom-kitchen accommodation in the Noe Valley neighborhood in San Francisco where Nancy has invited me to join her for the celebration weekend of her oldest grandson Charlie’s sixth birthday. Lucky me!

Birthday boy Charlie’s brother Henry on his way to bed. Sleep tight, sweet dreams!

We spent the evening with Josh (Nancy’s son) and Kelly, Charlie, and Henry. They live in the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. San Francisco is defined in many small neighborhoods some only a few blocks in size but if you want to live in one of the neighborhoods then that’s where you want to live and not somewhere else. It’s very specific.

Josh runs his knife business (sharpening, repairs, sales) out of the front room of their flat. He’s moving soon to a retail space and is very glad of it.

January 10

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Kelly made that cake. We watched a little of it happen last night. It took four carrot cakes and 8 recipes of frosting to complete this creation. One of the boys said to Kelly ‘you know, this is the best birthday cake I ever ate’. Right on.

And here come Roger and Sandy recently relocated to San Francisco. We’re going to see their place tomorrow. I am pleased to report they are doing very well.

A balloon lady came much to the delight of all the many many children.

Happy Birthday Dear Charlie, Happy Birthday to UUUU.

Josh and Kelly, serving cake to the 40 or so guests. Good thing the cake was as big as it was because ‘people’ were coming back for thirds (oh, would that be me?).

Then Nancy and I, tired as we were from watching all that energy being expended, went home and didn’t go out again.