San Francisco or Bust
A few weeks ago I went to San Francisco. Or I should say that I undertook a journey of Homeric proportions to get to San Francisco. Okay, okay, that’s overstating it a bit. But not by much.
I had a late flight out on what would be the first big snowstorm of the season, and DIA was, I would later find out, woefully unprepared. It felt like a blizzard as I drove to the airport, though native Coloradoans would probably have termed it “snow driving.” Growing up in California, I have never quite mastered the art of driving in the snow. As I do it I usually evaluate my life and try to see if there is anything I’d like to do differently should I survive.
I got to the airport, made it through security easily and got to the gate. I had a little extra time (and here I wish I’d had an inkling of the near future) and went to the bar to have a pre-flight cocktail. The waitress asked if I’d like another after I’d finished, and I replied, “pshaw, no,” thinking that I’d be getting on the plane soon. Once on board, the captain makes some announcement about getting going to de-ice, some planes have been waiting for 3 hours to de-ice but he didn’t think that would happen to us.
I’ll spare you all some time here and note that I got through a few episodes of “Damages” (1st season good, 2nd not so much) before we hit the de-icing pad 3 hours later. The captain announces that we’ve got half an hour before FAA regulations say we’ve got to go back to the gate. The flight attendants come by with water and pretzels. This doesn’t really mollify me. AS THEY ARE DE-ICING THE PLANE, the captain says that it’s taking too long and we’ll have to head back to the gate. It is now 1 AM.
We deplane and mill about, unsure of what to do. Some other passenger who sounds Canadian but is far too loud to be Canadian (I don’t know, are Canadians extraordinarily loud at 1 AM?) is irritating everyone. We all find a plug to recharge our electronic devices and they announce that they’re getting us all back ON the plane to try and leave, and now it should be okay. Fine. My dad calls to ask me how my flight was and if I made it to my hotel safely. I cheerfully announce that my flight landed safely in Denver.
We get back on the plane, and this time it’s different. This time we spend only 2 hours on the plane and don’t make it to the de-icing pad before they turn the plane around and cancel the flight.
It’s now 3:30 and I’m really wishing I took up that waitress on her offer of a 2nd cocktail. Everyone gets off the plane and gets on the phone to the airline trying to rebook. I can’t get through after 5 minutes so pull out my Ipad, see that there’s a flight leaving a 8:00 AM and get a ticket on that. It’s too little time to go home, and it’s still snowing anyway so I don’t want to drive (see aforementioned note about driving in snow) so I find a gate and try to sleep.
Now, in the 1990s, all airports homeless-proofed themselves. Before that there were seats without armrests where people could take a nap, but too many vagrants were taking advantage of that. After 9.11 when only passengers could come through to the gate area, this wasn’t needed but no airport has reverted to the nicer seats. So I really couldn’t sleep because of the seats, and because it’s damn creepy to be a single woman sleeping in the airport and did I mention I was watching a series about sneaky people murdering each other? So I wander the airport and see this really ugly piece of airport “art.” Did they forget to install something? What is the point of this:
Around 6:30 the airport wakes up, and I wander to find food. At this point, this is the end of a very very long NIGHT for me and I think it’d be nice to have that 2nd drink I never got. I then realize that for everyone else it’s 6:30 in the morning and chances would be that I’d run into a patient and be reported to some state medical board for looking like an alcoholic. I decide to wait for a more socially acceptable hour to have that bloody mary and instead get breakfast.
At 7:30 they announce overhead that the flight has been delayed due to fog in San Fran. Fog? San Fran? Who knew? Ok, no big deal.
At 8:30 they announce that the flight will now leave at 11 AM. I have been in the airport for about 13 hours at this point and am not thinking very clearly, but do realize that if I have to sit through one more flight delay I just may end up hurting someone. I look at the board and see that there is a flight to fog-less San Jose leaving at 10 AM, and run through the terminal to see if they can book me on that. Thankfully, they can, and I head to the bar to get what I feel is a well deserved drink before actually boarding a plane to get to California. (Note how I get to show off my super cool Ipad cover, too.)
As I walk down the jetway, these yahoos flank the walls. I feel they are mocking me and I wish I could hurt them. This is, I think, the WORST thing about flying Southwest.
I land in San Jose, my parents pick me up, hand me a bag with lunch, and I then get on a BART train to ride for ANOTHER 45 minutes to get to San Francisco.
I finally get to the hotel, 19 hours after I left home. I am so, so grateful for the box of delicious Indian food that my mom has lovingly packed in tiffin and eat every single bite.
You may wonder why I didn’t just give up and go home at any given point. Truthfully, I look forward to this trip too much to give it up-it’s my one trip away every year that isn’t work-related. And in some ways, it was kind of fun. I mean, I was there by myself so didn’t have anyone (kids) to take care of and had plenty of entertainment. It felt like I was younger and single and on one of my more adventurous trips where I was sharing a truck with chickens for 12 hours for a ride that should take 2, but without the chickens and all. Had I been going almost anywhere else I probably would have just gone back home, but I can’t pass up a trip to San Francisco, even if it means spending a night in the airport.
The trip itself was great, I spent time with some old friends and randomly ran into an old college friend I hadn’t seen in near 15 years, ate delicious food and got to go to an amazing yarn store to get a new project since 12 hours in the airport had eaten up all the yarn I’d initially brought with me. That’ll have to be another post. Oh, and I did manage to go to that medical conference and learn some, you know, stuff.
When I wasn’t out enjoying this, of course:
The Most Awesome Email I’ve Ever Received
I got this email from my dad this morning and had to share:
OK folks, Mitt Romney here. I have been crisscrossing the country for last six years. I know I have changed my positions on many issues. I consider that as a part of my etch-a-sketch strategy. I am aware Newt called me a liar, Santorum called me the worst Republican. I even remember late Senator Kennedy called me multiple choice person. I can’t help it if I like all aspects of any issue. Therefore, I was the staunch conservative Governor during Republican primaries. Now, in general election, I am a peaceloving centrist candidate. I am of the firm opinion that corporations are people too. Women should not have right to choose. You know Akins and Murdock are right, if a women gets pregnant even as a result of rape, its God’s wish and we cannot go against it. I will reduce your taxes, make our military strong, attack Iran with Netanyahu and also as time permits, will balance the budget. Finally, I am asking for your vote. I really, really want to be your President. Don’t worry, I have already promised Grover Norquist I will sign anything he puts on my desk. All I want is when I hold Ann in my arms in the Lincoln bedroom, she can croon in my ear, “Mr. President!”. I am not asking for much, am I? Thanks for your vote and God bless America!
Don’t forget to vote!!!
Graduated to the High Bike
Big bike!
Error
This video doesn’t exist
Sing Us a Song…
Error
This video doesn’t exist
Tales From the Backseat of a Minivan
Last week, while driving by DU
Me: Kids, did you know President Obama is going to be there tonight?
Girl, angrily: Obama shpends 4 BILLION dollars a day!!!
Boy, yelling: THAT’S NOT TRUE! THAT’S JUST A LIE MITT ROMNEY SAID SO HE WOULD GET ELECTED PRESIDENT! IT’S NOT TRUUUUUUE!
Me: Girl, who are you going to vote for President?
Girl: Mitt Romney! Mitt Romney! Mitt Romney!
Boy, yelling again: HE’S A LIAR!! YOU CAN’T VOTE FOR HIM!! HE’S A LIAAAARRRR!!!
I couldn’t imagine where they had heard any of this since we don’t tune in to commercial TV or radio, and I don’t think I’ve ever said anything about Obama’s spending.
Me: So, where did you hear this?
Boy: Remember the commercials we watched during the Olympics?
Ah, those commercials. 2 MONTHS ago. And apparently since then we’ve had a red state/blue state divide in my own house, and I didn’t even know it.
Stripey Baby Sweater
I remember when the kids were babies and we’d get clothes from people that were just HUGE. Didn’t people know how small babies were?
Well, as I’ve learned, you forget fast. I mean, now that my kids are bigger (but still small) I can’t possibly imagine anyone as small as a baby, especially when you’re knitting something.
A cousin of ours recently had a baby and so I knit a little sweater for her:
Pattern: Green Zebra Baby Sweater
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease
I’ve started putting these little tags onto my knits-so cute, no? And you can also write in helpful washing instructions. I NEVER give a baby gift that can’t be washed and dried. That’s just mean.
Now, by “recently” I mean the baby was born in April. Those things grow fast and I was worried that the sweater that I’d started sometime shortly after that would now be too big.
I thought I’d try it on the smallest creature I had handy:
It’s a bit snug, buuuut I think it’ll be okay for the *cough* 7 month old *cough* it’s intended for.
In a year or so.
Aspen Camping
I’ve probably mentioned somewhere to most of you that I don’t camp. Humans have evolved to have indoor plumbing, central heat, and carpets and I don’t see any reason why giving that up for “fun” makes any sense.
I may have to rescind that statement after going on an actual camping trip. Now, we did go on a few camping trips before we had kids, and they were fun, but the last time we went camping was when the boy was 18 months old and it was an unmitigated disaster. I know many of you camp with toddlers and purport to have a good time, but I find that the work/fun ratio was too high on the work side to make it enjoyable. Also, he didn’t sleep so we didn’t sleep and it was miserable.
A neighbor family invited us to go camping a few weekends ago, and so we all made it up to a campground just past Kenosha pass. The timing was perfect and we were surrounded by a field of bright yellow aspens.
The first night was freezing, and the ground was hard. I woke up to bruised, cold hips. In the morning, I looked at the tent and saw that the ceiling vents were open, conveniently letting all of the heat out of the tent, which made me feel like a right moron. We fixed it the next night and were quite toasty.
The rest of the weekend was filled with tree climbing, bike riding, fishing, campfires and exploring the wild wild woods next to the site.
Eric worked especially hard during the trip.
On our hike we even found a beaver pond, complete with dam!
It was a great time away and I *might* even be up for some camping trips in the future…as long as I can bring a fluffier air mattress with me next time.
San Diego
A bit of catch up blogging here-
We went to San Diego over Labor Day weekend for my cousin Shailu’s wedding! The wedding was a blast and the kids (and I) had a lot of fun getting all dressed up. I tell you, the girl enjoys getting all fancied up a bit too much, if you ask me. Must take after her dad.
In many Indian weddings, the groom arrives on a horse and they bring with them one of the young cousins. Now, the boy was supposed to be the one to ride on in with the groom, but on the day of he was a bit tired and grumpy (and honestly, I think a bit scared of the horse). We turned to the girl, who looked at the horse and said in hushed tones, “It’s just like a princess horse!” and promptly clambered on top and proceeded to have a grand time. The girl was in awe of the bride, who was unbelievably beautiful, and I’m pretty sure she thinks that she saw a true princess.
It was also the first time for me to see many of my relatives from around the country and even India since MY wedding, and obviously the first time for them to meet my kids, which was fun. Now, cousins, all of YOU people need to start having kids so MY kids have someone to play with at the next batch of weddings, k? Also, I’m just looking at this picture now. I’m so glad my daughter is so respectful.
The big highlight for the kids, though, was the beach. Denver is sadly beach and wave deficient, so most moments we weren’t attending the wedding, we were getting sandy
and sandier
I took the kids to see my alma mater, UCSD, and while they were duly unimpressed, it was a shock to me to see my children running around my old undergrad campus. Also, in the 14 (!!) years since I’ve been there, it had changed so much that I hardly recognized it, which was good because it tempered my nostalgia.
Of course, no trip would be complete without a trip to the Zoo, where the kids met face to face with some of their own kind
That is such an incredible place-I love going to see all the animals. Koalas! They have koalas! And pandas too, which really were more like fluffy black and white tree ornaments the day we saw them. And so many monkeys in fun habitats that were swinging all over the place and teasing each other. The hippo exhibit is so cool-you can get so close to them.
Who would think that this vicious creature is responsible for more deaths than lions and leopards combined?
And we of course made it to Legoland, which is a nice little amusement park for kids under about 9 in terms of rides. Mine and the boy’s favorite part, though, was the Star Wars scenes recreations in 1:20 scale.
The thing that was the most amazing was that as far as I could tell, there weren’t any specialty shaped pieces used to make any of the models! They’re all made out of standard bricks! How cool is that! I took a bunch of pictures of these but I’ll spare you the geekiness unless you want to see them. We spent almost an hour just looking at these. Okay, okay, I’ll post one more:
Overall, the trip was so much fun-we’ve got another big family wedding in November and are really looking forward to it. I hope they can manage to bring the beach to Sugarland, Texas, too, because then it would be just perfect.
Kusha Kusha Shawl
This may be the most beautiful thing I have ever knit.
I started this project in March of 2010, and it’s finally done. I didn’t work on it for months at a time, but it’s been my go to travel project and with all the plane time I’ve spent this year, I think I got through it. This scarf has been with me to San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Vail, Colorado Springs-sometimes I feel like when you knit something that takes this long, some of that history is woven into it.
It’s knit with two yarns, a silk-wrapped stainless steel (yes, steel) and a fine wool in a subtly variegated purple, both are about as thin as your average sewing thread. The steel gives the finished piece a texture, and if you crumple it a bit it will stay that way. They’re both Habu yarns which are some of the most beautiful and unique yarns I’ve ever seen-last year I visited their New York store and it was stunning.
The scarf version of this is pretty, too, but I really wanted a wider shawl, which is why it took a bit longer. It’s so lightweight though that it’s easily wearable as a scarf, too.(Forgive the pictures-real knitting bloggers have photo shoots and photoshop to help them, whereas I have a 6 year old.)
The final instructions call for a light felting, but I’m too scared that it won’t look nice that way and I love it so much as it is I want to leave it. So there, knitting instructions.
Next up is finishing a baby sweater (just needs buttons) and then onto another piece with more of the Habu yarn, this time with a black cotton/linen tape.
fretzes on the loose 