Different Route

It can't compare to Ithaca or Roskilde, but running near our resort was better than expected.

Just past the clubhouse it looked like a dead end, but there was a little trail sign.

It was much hillier than I was used to, but worth it.

Even the flats looked appealing
(although I looked on the ground most of the time after seeing several snake-warning signs).

I wish I had had more time to explore this part.

At the other end of the tunnel was a view of the resort,
golf course, and other parts I had been ignoring.

D. had tucked his folding bicycle into the back of the car.  I had a chance to use it one morning, but riding with unfamiliar traffic was not pleasant.  On the other hand, I did get to see the beach.

The black dots in the water are surfers.

Good to go away and good to come home.

Vacation

Even though we did not sign the dotted line when we were offered a time share in Hawaii, we were invited again to enjoy a discounted stay at a resort and receive two tickets to Legoland.  After all our separate trips it was time to spend time together.

We borrowed books, read websites, and looked at maps, but still we ended up at Crystal Cove.  A. likes the tide pools and low tide was about twenty minutes after we arrived.

Next up was Balboa Park.  One day was not enough, but we explored the science museum, met up with a high school friend, and split up to enjoy the natural history museum, automotive museum, and Museum of Photographic Arts.  D. and A. also spoke Danish while visiting the International Cottages.  I was sorry to miss the bonsai exhibit and wish I could have photographed every building!

Daughter and mother at the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.

A penny farthing is on D.'s wish list.

For dinner we headed the the village of Carlsbad.  Through the magic of the internet I found a vegetarian-friendly restaurant and then we had a chance to wander the main drag and visit the beach.

After talking with the timeshare salesman (three guesses what we told him) we headed to Legoland for our last day of vacation.

One fabulous surprise was finding that The Lego Movie set is now housed at Legoland.

Here is the double-decker couch!

The water park was better for young kids,
but since we aren't usually there in the summer it was fun to try it out.

And back to Claremont.  We played Rubberneckers the whole way and arrived home with a bit of time to unwind before heading back to school.

p.s.  We drove past this three times and I finally remembered to take a picture on the way home.

We decided these pumpkins were all the how-much-does-it-weigh variety.

In case you were wondering

I finished the puzzle on Friday, partially out of fear because other people started helping and I wanted to put the last piece in.  I was so sure there would be pieces missing, but I was amazed to be proven wrong.

I loved this puzzle!  Each part had the name of the state, its capital, its capitol,
the order it entered the union, and its state motto. 

In other news, R. has driven on the freeway three times!!  Next up, night driving.

New and Improved

The new sidewalk I wrote about was finished last week.

The crosswalks were sanded (maybe not the right word?) earlier.

Today (the first day of school) the crosswalks were prepped by spraying with a chemical.

Next a hot liquid was poured on.

It must be a great material because the intersection did not
have to be closed or partially blocked during the process.

A couple hours later it was done!
And no need to worry about the snow plow scraping it off the road!

Big News!

New hours at the library!  It is definitely a loss for the morning people, but I think it is great to be open seven days a week.

Safe Routes to School

You might want to skip the introduction and get right to the post.  Look for the double asterisks.

A friend and fellow blogger usually lives about four blocks away so I often look to see if she has already posted the latest local news.  Alternatively, I have been known to hustle home from an event or place so I can be the first to post.  Sometimes we ask each other, "Do you want to post that?"

But now she is in Switzerland for a year, which means she has a whole new world to blog about.  It also means I have no competition, which makes me a little lazy.  Why rush to post?  I will try to stay on top of things for my fans in internet land.

**A year or two ago the school district started work with a local organization to increase the number of children who get to school by foot or bicycle, calling it Safe Routes to School.  I supported the effort, although it seemed weak.

Yesterday a curb cut between our house and the school disappeared and a short while later a sign appeared.

This sign has me stumped since the work started on August 19 and school starts on August 27.  Wouldn't it be safer to complete the sidewalk before the beginning of the school year?

They are doing a nice job of saving the trees and the wading pool.

Because of this dedicated garden at the opposite corner, 

the new sidewalk begins south of the intersection.  

In my experience pedestrians take the shortest path, not always the one laid out for them.  

We'll see how this goes.

The Mice Will Play

Life isn't all work.  Time on my own also included unproductive activities.

• working on a jigsaw puzzle
• watching movies, including Hairspray, Mad Hot Ballroom, and Shawshank Redemption, which is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its release
• swimming when it isn't 6a.m.
• going out for breakfast after practice
• walking with friends
• reading the whole paper in the morning
• browsing the thrift store

Now it is back to the regularly scheduled program.