Weekends

The promised pictures of Half Moon Bay are on the right hand side under family albums. It was a very enjoyable trip, even for the normally homely half man. It was a fairly long drive all across to San Mateo and then some. But scenic in parts and we stopped at a farmer's stand to buy a lot of cherries. At $1.99 per lb, it would be insane not to. Nic washed about half of them using water provided for the customers and we ate them at the beach later.

The town of Half Moon Bay is reminiscent of Carmel though not quite as touristy. It is small and quaint and we stopped for a very American lunch at a small restaurant with an old fashioned jukebox playing all the oldies. Most of the customers were also oldies, retirees out to enjoy a beautiful warm day. We traipsed through the town in approximately an hour, including window shopping at one of the 2-storey souvenir shops and a very nice church. There was a restaurant bbq-ing a lot of meat out in the open air and it was enticing.

Then we drove to the beach. I was shocked to find I had to pay $6 for parking. And it was freaking cold. Mainly because of the wind. My image of a warm sunny tropical like setting just disappeared into thin air. I buttoned up my demin jacket but it was futile - the wind won and both Nic and I eventually retreated back to the CRV but only after sitting down at a table to consume a lot of cherries. There were families having bbq and picnics. Unbelievable.

Only Ryan enjoyed the beach. He spent at least half an hour all by himself in the sand, in the process managing to get his shoes and socks totally soaked. I don't know how that boy can stand the cold. Even at home, he has taken to often sleeping without any shirt.

Then the next day, Sunday, Nic and I (actually mostly Nic) washed both cars and Nic vacuumed them both. So the promise was kept. Except by the boy, of course. He managed to plead incompetence. Actually more than ignorance. Nic did a fantastic job. Both cars were spotless in and out. Masterful.

It is the weekend again. Time really flies. Last evening, the kids and I went to the San Ramon Symphonic Band Concert at the community center and had a fabulous time. It was free too. The audience was treated to almost two hours of wonderful music, compered by a radio broadcaster and conducted by four different seasoned musicians, two young and two more elderly. We are hooked. There will be at least two more concerts, one in June and one on Independence Day. Next week, we are vounteering at the Art and Wind Festival. Looking forward to these events.

This morning as usual was spent on housework. But we did go to the San Ramon Farmer's Market which opens every Saturday - it is within walking distance from the house, just next to the Korean church. Followed by Thai lunch at a small restaurant we had found before in Dublin. The best thing we did today was the two kids and I going for a very long jaunt all the way from home along the Iron Horse trail to MarketPlace near my office. They rode the bikes while I walked. We were too ambitious. I thought I would have the stamina to walk all the way to Crow Canyon to get Nic's musical accessories but by the time we reached Bollinger Canyon, I was beat and thirsty. So we went all the way back after getting a bottle of water from Long's. But it was good! I figure I must have walked maybe 6 to 7 miles and I got the kids out of the house to enjoy the beautiful weather, fresh air and get some exercise. The weather now is what makes California so attractive a place to live in. And the days are long and getting longer. Perfect.

One last accomplishment - we managed to make it home in time for me to drive Nic to House of Woodwinds to pick up her music stuff. So she is now pretty happy.