San Francisco/Oakland Get Away

Dave had an Oracle conference in San Francisco. He found out about it in May and asked if I wanted to go. DUH! Mostly because it is a hop, skip, and a jump from Becca. After investigating the details we decided it wouldn't be much fun for me to hang out in San Fran while he was at the conference. Most of his meals and activities were included in the price of the conference so I would be on my own most of the time and it would get expensive. The week of the conference was a big tax deadline (October 15) for Becca so she would not be able to take time to hang out with me. So we decided I would fly out at the end of the conference and we would spend a couple of days in Fremont with Becca and Steven. Dave took a shuttle from the conference to the Oakland airport and was waiting for me when I got off the plane. Becca picked us up at the airport and we picked up Steven for dinner at Chili's.
The next day they played hooky from work and picked us up to drive to San Francisco. We caught a ferry to Alcatraz. It was a fun place to go.

We learned a lot of the history of Alcatraz with a audio tour. We wore a headset with a listening device. You could stop or repeat or fast forward so you could spend more or less time at any spot. The cell blocks were three tiers with a caged shooting gallery at the end. The guards would walk up and down the shooting gallery to watch the rows of cells.

This was the extent of the activity yard.

After 3 trips to San Francisco we finally got a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone kept telling us October was a good time for the fog to leave and they were right. The last picture is the view of San Fran from Alcatraz. The other was just a cool sailboat we saw while on the ferry.

After our escape to Alcatraz we headed down to Pier 39. There are a lot of fun shops there. We decided to eat at Bubba Gumps. It was a lot of fun for everyone except Becca. She got a little queasy from watching Steven and Dave eat their steamed crab. I enjoyed the Shrimpers Heaven and Becca stuck with fried chicken. Sorry Garry I know that was a no, no!

While we were eating a BIG SHIP came into the big. This was really a BIG SHIP! It was from China. Half the people in the restaurant pulled out their cameras to grab a shot of it.

There was a fun carousel on Pier 39, it was a double decker. After dinner we headed to Ghiradelli Square for an ice cream and to buy a couple of candy bars of course.

On Saturday we went to a session at the Oakland Temple. We caught another fine view of the bay area from there.

I thought this was an interesting sign. Someone wanted to be very specific on the speed limit!After going to church with Becca and Steven and them cooking us a delicious dinner they took us back to the Oakland airport. It was a fun 3 days with them. They were so good to be our chauffeur, feed us, and show us around. It was so nice to spend some time with them, getting to know Steven a little better and seeing how well they have started their new life together. They seem to be meant for each other!

I'm not thrilled with this picture but it was such a momentous occasion that I had to snap it. In nearly 31 years of marriage this is the first time Dave and I have flown together. WOW! Thanks Becca and Steven!!!

Month of Driving

Ok, so what if I have a 4 page list of things that have to be done in the next 2 weeks for Becca's wedding, I wanted to do this post.

As I was working on this "to-do list" and trying to plot everything on the calendar I noticed all my trips to Utah in April. I thought it would be interesting to add it all up so here is the data:

Conference Weekend- Picked up Millie and went to Grandma's and Mindy's for a fun get away and time with the kids. . . 560 miles

2nd Weekend- Picked up Millie and went to Brigham City for Jessie's Shower. It worked out great being as how Millie had just finished her semester and had a week break and wanted to spend it at Mindy's. So Mindy picked her up at the shower and I went home alone. . . 388 miles

Later the next week- Becca flew in to SLC for a mad week of Wedding Stuff! I went to Bountiful, Saratoga Springs, shopping in Lehi/American Fork, back to Bountiful for the shower, to Orem for Becca's best friend's (Caralee) shower and back to Idaho Falls. . . 622 miles (without adding shopping miles)

While Becca was in Idaho Falls- Went to Rigby and Rexburg to meet with florist, get thank you notes and have a birthday lunch with Millie. . . 58 miles

2 days later- took Becca back to the SLC airport to fly back to California, headed straight to Rexburg to get Millie for a dentist appointment in IF. . . 512 miles

Later that week- took Millie home after she spent her birthday here in IF (with a great dinner at Red Robin!). . . 58 miles

Sunday- April was sick so Dave and I went to Twin to pick up the kids. . . 312 miles

For a grand total of 2,510 miles, 110 gallons of gas (or about $115)!
But. . . time with family and friends- Priceless!

It is about 875 miles to Becca's and back. . . I could have driven there and back and almost all the way there again! But that trip will come the end of May! Our poor cars!


That is how I spent April, nearly 40 hours in the car, no wonder It seems I didn't get anything done!