The Plot Bunny Farm

First part of last week was spent getting ready for the trip to the Monterey Peninsula: packing the motorhome, buying produce, that sort of thing. I did get some fusible interfacing (Misty Fuse black), which worked almist perfectly -- and would quite possibly have been better if I'd used it before cutting out the motifs. Live and learn.

When we arrived at the RV park (Marina Dunes, for those who may be interested), we walked down to the beach. A third of a mile on a sandy path, with a steep drop at the end to the beach itself. Saw lots of pelicans and cormorants, some gulls, and a couple of turkey vultures. On walking down the beach, we discovered the vultures were after the seal carcass near the high tide line. Walking back to the motorhome was exhausting; I was sweating in 60-degree weather, my legs were rubber, and my ankle hurt like hell. Fortunately, my husband had left the beach sooner, and he met us at the trailhead with the car, so I didn't have to make it as far as the motorhome on foot.

Thursday, we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. That was an awesome trip, and I want to go back again someday. At one point, the girl fell asleep (we took an umbrella stroller) and her dad and pop-pop sat on a bench near her resting. My MIL and I just stood at the near tank, watching the flounder, skates, bat rays, leopard sharks, sturgeon, and seven-gill sharks. That was awesome. I love the way the rays move, and I'm going to have to make an alien race that looks like that but has the brains of a cephalopod.

My one disappointment: their lack of an on-line store. There were a couple of shirts I was interested in, but couldn't decide on then. Their "on-line" store is a handful of gifts, books, and plush that you have to call to order. No shirts. Very little merchandise at all. They seriously need to join the 21st century! (If anyone is going in the reasonably near future, let me know -- I'll send you a check if you're willing to pick up shirts for me!)

Also, I read david_bridger's Beauty and the Bastard while driving both ways (well, being driven). Most enjoyable!

Friday was a day at Point Lobos. More walking, including up and down stairs, as well as along Gibson Beach. Picnic lunch at the South Shore picnic grounds. The area brought to mind my shelved project that was intended to be submitted for the Nocturne Bites line, Blake and Melody, a.k.a. "Reign of Lightning." My reasons for leaving it remain, but I was still tempted to go back and do some work on it.

Yesterday, we drove back to Grass Valley. I read more of Echoes while we were on the road, but mostly, it was a quiet day.

Next vacation, I'm bringing mire books with me. Yes, I have dozens on my iPod, but there are issues, such as needing to charge it, the boy wanting to check his Zombie Farm or borrow it for some other reason, and bumpy roads making it hard to change pages. I think I shall have to raid my in-laws' bookshelves.

All in all, vacation is going nicely. I didn't start out as relaxed as last year, but that's because, despite being quite able to take care of myself, I find vacation most calming when there are no choices that I have to make, when someone else has done the plans. Last year, my husband had done all the reservations and route plans. The past few days, it was my in-laws. But having to be the one to get everyone from one place to another and decide what to do each day -- not so much on the relaxing side. Yes, there are downsides to being an adult.

Tuesday morning was about as unexciting as you'd expect laundry day on vacation to be. Highlights included getting to the building with the machines and discovering laundry detergent was still in car and having to go back to the room during the dry cycle to change CG. Fun times.

The afternoon sightseeing was terrific, though. We went over to Yoho National Park and visited 3 places: Spiral Tunnels (figure-8 railroad tracks through the mountains to get a 2.2% grade rather than 4.5%), Takakkaw Falls (very high, runoff from Daly Glacier), and Emerald Lake (also largely glacier-derived, as evidenced by the creamy green color). Some walking, lots of pictures.

Today was finally sightseeing in town. Took the kids with me for the day. Started with breakfast at an artisan bakery. Visited the Banff Park Museum (kids liked the discovery room) and the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum. Walked the Bow Falls Trail -- T-Bug very disappointed with how small those were compared to Takakkaw. Did some shopping. Let the kids play at the playground. Picked up sushi and edamame for dinner.

After dinner, we went off to see this Zome-tool geometric structure created as a group project over the conference. Wound up hanging out while they finished it up.

Kids are still awake. My face is sunburned, and my arms mosquito-bitten. Husband is seeing about uploading some pictures. In other words, a good time is being had by all.

Very excited about tomorrow -- leisurely drive through Kootenay National Park, ending with a visit to my friend Valerie!

Sunday morning, I got up early to touch up my roots before we got on the road. Didn't want to share my silver with everyone, after all. I picked up a golden brown rather than cool brown shade this time, and my hair is a bit redder than I had expected. Oh, well.

Sunday was a long drive -- Pennsylvania, Ohio, and half of Indiana. Yesterday was shorter. We drove into Chicago and spent the day at the Field Museum. Husband looked at Sue and said, "So that's the one Dresden rode through the streets of Chicago?" (Dead Beat by Jim Butcher)

I made some mental notes about Sekhmet for Ivory and Bone while going through the Ancient Egypt exhibit, too.

Then we drove up to Wisconsin to visit my (former) sister-in-law and my niece and nephew. We're spending today with them, too, and now most everyone is up. The day starts . . . .

That "putative" trip I mentioned? Not so much.

Husband wasn't feeling much inspired, so last night, he checked his e-mail, looking for inspiration one way or t'other, such as someone saying "We really need to get together in Wisconsin to catch up." Turns out, the inspiration was his colleague whom he's supposed to be co-authoring a paper with saying, "When are we going to get this paper written? I'd really like to be able to put 'submitted for publication' on my tenure review paperwork."

I knew he was going to get into that "I haven't done any work this summer" phase when we got back--he has been spending all his time on the painting and flooring, after all--so this just moves that up a week.

I'll miss seeing the family, and seven-year-old isn't too happy at not seeing the cousins, but I'm also not losing another week of work time, so it's all good.

And I did have lots of fun this last week while the in-laws were here.

Went shopping with mother-in-law both Weds and Thurs. Got fluffy new towels, some grown-up looking glasses, some new shirts for hubby, birthday present for father-in-law (books, of course--first three of the Ranger's Apprentice series, The Ghost Brigades by Scalzi [he's previously read my copy of Old Man's War], and a Joe Haldeman), birthday presents for the child (Playmobil, dragon poster, books), a Little Black Dress for me, and stuff for birthday dinner (child wanted mini meatloaves) as well as frozen yogurt cake.

Friday, we went to Knoebels. Fun amusement park--no admission fee, reasonable prices on food, cool rides. (I loved the Phoenix roller coaster. Got off it still giggling.) Took the baby for a ride on a carousel horse. Went into the haunted mansion with hubby and seven-year-old. Lots of fun! We even found out we could take the dog, so next time, we might, so we don't have to worry about rushing home to feed him dinner.

Saturday, we did arboreta with treehouses: Tyler Arboretum and Longwood Gardens Much, much, much walking. In the heat. But very fun, and I want to go back, especially to Longwood (preferably when it's cooler). If we'd known they were having a Celtic music concert at Longwood in the evening, we would've left later and stayed longer.

We also ate out at a variety of places, from Mama Nina's Focacceria (lovely Italian seafood--I had the blackened tuna) to Cactus Blue (pretty good Mexican food). And we cooked shellfish for dinner twice--one night, mussels, the next, clams.

Oh, and the baby still belly-crawls more than real crawling, but has learned to sit up and can pull herself up to a stand when holding onto something as well.

A very good week overall.

Haven't posted as much this month as last, and the trend will continue. Next week, my family and I disappear on a month-long vacation. See you all when we get back.

For those whom I may not have told, I'm taking off for a week. We leave tomorrow morning, headed to Knoxville. My husband will be attending Mathfest; my son and I will be visiting the zoo, Fort Kid, the Candy Factory, and such venues of interest. I will be doing my best to catch up on LJs and such Monday and Tuesday of next week.

I posted a short bit of fiction (1,100 words) this morning for FM's August challenge. It can be found here. Comments appreciated but not required. :-D

Have fun, all!