Hail and Farewell

Hail and Farewell
(Jan 30) 07:00 PST – Newsflash - Thompson School of Irish Dance Closes

For 10 years, I have been among the grand, lucky and few to participate in a noble and traditional sport--Irish Dance. In this ancient activity I have competed, participated and taught the inspired how to do it and how to do it well. I have been to hundreds of competitions and events for my students and me and my family. It is something I wanted for a long time, something I owe to my heritage, my past… And now my calendar is clear and free, but with a tear and remembrance for the traditional.

A "Hail and Farewell" ceremony normally signals change for people and organizations as we move from place to place, and today is no different. Our dance studio closes a door on students and teachers, as we move to new schools, new pursuits, and new dreams. A small ceremony tonight sparks the end of a tradition in Orange County that will be remembered, but a happily-ever-after message is not to be. Thompson School of Irish Dance will not continue the eighteenth century tradition of flamboyant costumes, colored socks, boys' reel shoes, solo dancing with high-feet kicking and young exuberance. Jigs, reels, hornpipes, sets, polkas and step dances will be taught elsewhere as students and teachers alike are informed of the unexpected and unhappy change. As in earlier times, dance masters appeared in Ireland. A wandering dancing teacher who traveled from village to village, teaching dance to peasants will come, teaching young pupils the difference between their right and their left feet. So it will be again that the dance master will use his or her staff to direct young and inspired students to pick up the craft and dance along in a circle of fun and excitement.

Today there are still many opportunities to watch and enjoy Irish dancing. I tell myself this as I write and ponder the good times I have had dancing on the stage. It is still a regular part of social functions and my life. There are still many organizations promoting Irish dance with the Feis being an important part of rural cultural life. Children, teenagers and adults compete in separate competitions for Feis titles and prizes. There are group and solo competitions where dancers are graded by age into the senior categories. With the world-wide success of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, Irish dance continues to be popular on the international stage. But the dreams of our students will have to prosper elsewhere as our little studio locks the doors of imagination.

It is hard to see the faces of the students I have taught right now. Some cry as they take their trophies and pictures down from the wall. Others have hope as new teachers and new opportunities await them at other local schools. Some are on a boat in a fogbank, wondering where to go next, what activities to pursue, and if dance is in their future. The boat must come to the Shannon Harbor and dock. Fog must not be a hindrance of the imagination. The hand-embroidered Celtic designs and the cape which fall over the back, and the kilt and jacket draped from the shoulder must be donned again. The youthful faces must be alight again with the spotlights and fast-paced Irish music must flow again. Tears continue as I remember the good times. I cannot see through the fog right now. The jig is silent and the fiddle missing from the scene.

I see myself finding new activities and new dreams as I graduate from dance to the world of being downsized. I am sad to see the place where I grew so much as a dancer close. I cry a little, but stay strong for the children and the students I have groomed and have taken to competition. I can stay strong because I know there is more for them out there, more for their little feet to pursue, more for me to ponder as to my next goal.

What to do next, have cake and celebrate? Today was the last day of Irish Dance School at Thompson's. I will remember putting in the floor with my dad, my brother Patrick, our director and her husband. I will remember when one of my students broke her wrist on that floor; I will remember where we danced ceilis and had recitals for the parents, and watching James grow up in the school. I will not remember the day the door closed and the tears on the kid's faces. Instead I will remember going to their competitions, seeing their happy faces when they got their medals, seeing them grow and stumble along the way. I will go to future feisanna. I will encourage. I will not remember the day when the lights were turned off for the last time. I will remember and continue to pursue my favorite sport and pastime—somewhere.

Hail and farewell to the school is in order and a new dance master is coming. Competition is in February, so we better get started right away preparing. Is your costume ready? Do my shoes still fit and where is that duct tape? Is that fiddle ready yet? However tempting, it is not time for Jameson's, it is time to lace up those shoes. Now, what school are you going to and how can I be of help? Did I tell you I have Lord of the Dance tickets? Wait, Trinity is coming to town also. Can we go? Remember the time when Anna…? :)

L

Energy Independence?

Energy Independence?
A Serious Plan Requires Taxes, ANWR and Nukes
By Charles Krauthammer, Friday, January 26, 2007; Washington Post, Page A21

Is there anything more depressing than yet another promise of energy independence in yet another State of the Union address? By my count, 24 of the 34 State of the Union addresses since the oil embargo of 1973 have proposed solutions to our energy problem.

The result? In 1973 we imported 34.8 percent of our oil. Today we import 60.3 percent.

President Bush speaks about energy policy in Delaware on Wednesday. (By Jim Graham -- Bloomberg News)

And what does this president propose? Another great technological fix. For Jimmy Carter, it was the magic of synfuels. For George Bush, it's the wonders of ethanol. Our fuel will grow on trees. Well, stalks, with even fancier higher-tech variants to come from cellulose and other (literal) rubbish.

It is very American to believe that chemists are going to discover the cure for geopolitical weakness. It is even more American to imagine that it can be done painlessly. Ethanol for everyone. Farmers get a huge cash crop. Consumers get more supply. And the country ends up more secure.

This is nonsense. As my colleague Robert J. Samuelson demonstrated this week, biofuels will barely keep up with the increase in gasoline demand over time. They are a huge government bet with goals and mandates and subsidies that will not cure our oil dependence or even make a significant dent in it.

Even worse, the happy talk displaces any discussion about here-and-now measures that would have a rapid and revolutionary effect on oil consumption and dependence. No one talks about them because they have unhidden costs. Politicians hate unhidden costs.

There are three serious things we can do now: Tax gas. Drill in the Arctic. Go nuclear!


First, tax gas! The president ostentatiously rolled out his 20-in-10 plan: reducing gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years. This with Rube Goldberg regulation -- fuel-efficiency standards, artificially mandated levels of "renewable and alternative fuels in 2017" and various bribes (er, incentives) for government-favored technologies -- of the kind we have been trying for three decades.

Good grief. I can give you 20-in-2: Tax gas to $4 a gallon. With oil prices having fallen to $55 a barrel, now is the time. The effect of a gas-tax hike will be seen in less than two years, and you don't even have to go back to the 1970s and the subsequent radical reduction in consumption to see how. Just look at last summer. Gas prices spike to $3 -- with the premium going to Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chávez and assorted sheiks rather than the U.S. Treasury -- and, presto, SUV sales plunge, the Prius is cool and car ads once again begin featuring miles-per-gallon ratings.

No regulator, no fuel-efficiency standards, no presidential exhortations, no grand experiments with switch grass. Raise the price, and people change their habits. It's the essence of capitalism.

Second, immediate drilling to recover oil that is under U.S. control, namely in the Arctic and on the outer continental shelf. No one pretends that this fixes everything. But a million barrels a day from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is 5 percent of our consumption. In tight markets, that makes a crucial difference.

We will always need some oil. And the more of it that is ours, the better. It is tautological that nothing more directly reduces dependence on foreign oil than substituting domestic for foreign production. Yet ANWR is now so politically dead that the president did not even mention it in the State of the Union or in his energy address the next day.

He did bring up, to enthusiastic congressional applause, global warming. No one has a remotely good idea about how to make any difference in global warming without enlisting China and India, and without destroying the carbon-based Western economy. The obvious first step, however, is an extremely powerful source of energy that produces not an ounce of carbon dioxide: nuclear.

What about nuclear waste? Well, coal produces toxic pollutants, as does oil. Both produce carbon dioxide that we are told is going to end civilization as we know it. These wastes are widely dispersed and almost impossible to recover once they get thrown into the atmosphere.

Nukes produce waste as well, but it comes out concentrated -- very toxic and lasting nearly forever. But because it is packed into a small, manageable volume, it is more controllable. And it doesn't pollute the atmosphere. At all!

There is no free lunch. Producing energy is going to produce waste. You pick your poison, and you find a way to manage it. Want to do something about global warming? How many global warming activists are willing to say the word nuclear?

So much easier to say ethanol. That it will do farcically little is beside the point. Our debates about oil consumption, energy dependence and global warming are not meant to be serious. They are meant for show.

Disney's California Adventure:

Disney's California Adventure:
My Guide to Visitors by Sean

California Adventure, Disney’s newest park, which opened in 2001, was new for Lara and me, who just got around to going last weekend. By the way, thank you Autumn again for your wonderful gift—tickets. We had enough for lunch, dessert and a souvenir for James, too! Thank you! Just last year we visited the Golden Gate Bridge, which is actually the first thing you see when you enter California Adventure. We have been to the a couple wharfs on the Pacific Coast and we have seen some grizzly terrain, trees and scenery. We have become experts driving Interstate 5 and Highway 99. But is CA Adventures like the real thing and does it compare to the places we have visited?

Did Lara tell you that the park opens up at 10:00? Wait, we have to be there when the park opens, which is 9:00, or so I thought. Ok, I like to show up early so we can get the first parking space in the lot, and yes, the new park opens up at 10:00, Disneyland opens at 9:00. She was right! All right, that means time in Downtown Disney for an hour before we can get to the Golden Gate Bridge and Screamin’, the very cool and fast roller coaster. Did you see me trying to open the big vault in Downtown Disney? I almost got in! But I need longer than an hour. Maybe we should go sit by the fire in the California Grand Hotel instead? It is freezing out here!

When we entered California Adventure, the first thing we saw was unique Golden Gate Bridge flanked by two tiled murals representing the state's riches. Stop! Get a picture! California Adventure has over fifty acres, skimming off the best and brightest parts of California to celebrate our state, and Disney has Cast Members to take your every picture while you are there. Don’t move, picture time! The newer Disney theme park takes its cues from the states neatest attractions; Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier, the Golden State Show, farming and a few rides that tell a story to create some new and fun experiences, a few of which are unique among the Disney theme parks. Did Lara tell you that we made sourdough and ate tortillas that we made? Ok I am getting there!

See It Now: Scroll down to our pictures on previous posts

Get Oriented: California Adventure Map. Did you say map?

Lara and I rate California Adventure 4.99 out of 5, because it contains some really unique rides we thoroughly enjoyed: Soarin' Over California, Tower of Terror and California Screamin'. Well, Lara enjoyed most of the rides. The Hollywood Hotel also known as the Tower of Terror, caused some stress in our relationship. I may have to watch both the old and the new versions of Pride and Prejudice in a marathon, but I got Lara to ride. I can’t find the camera either, as it went above Lara’s head, into the Twilight Zone, and wasn’t seen again until we exited the crazy elevator. After you've been there, come back and tell us what you think. We had a great time, and January is a great time to visit. I suspect in summer, the place will be a zoo. San Diego Zoo may be a better choice to escape the animals.

Given just one day, though if it's a busy one, you may miss out on some of the most popular rides. Here was our itinerary for the day:

Paradise Pier

Paradise Pier is the part of the park that looks most impressive from a distance, thanks to its large and colorful rides, and the large sea and coastal area. Divided out into two sections, the first a California boardwalk themed based on coastal boardwalks like the Santa Monica Pier or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. There is a very large Ferris wheel (the Sun Wheel), which Lara didn’t like at all. Eeeek it moves back and forth, Sean! Another favorite (of mine) was the large roller coaster (California Screamin’), a big shot style attraction (like the Maliboomer or maybe the Corkscrew at Knott’s), and the Orange Stinger (a classic swing spinner attraction within a themed shell that resembles an orange, which we didn’t go on). But wait, Sean, we have to read about it first!

The second themed area of Paradise Pier is the Route 66 area, a desert road area that starts with Paradise Pier's crashed fireboat the S.S. Rustworthy. Notable attractions are the Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, and Mulholland Madness as well as the Sunglass Shack in the shape of a giant roadside dinosaur. Pictures of us can be seen in front of the Zephyr and the really cool waterfall. Here comes the Disney Photographers again, be careful!

Golden State

This "land" allows for guests to experience California's more natural settings. It is further divided into sub-lands (Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak Recreational Area, and the Pacific Wharf). It features Golden Dreams, a film about the history of California.

Condor Flats and Grizzly Peak Recreational Area

The aviation-themed area, Condor Flats, features Soarin’ Over California, the simulated hang-glider ride. It is a popular favorite for visitors of all ages, though the “Fear of Heights” signs freaked Lara out a bit. The wilderness/forested area, Grizzly Peak Recreational Area, features Grizzly River Run, a fast-paced river rapids ride around Grizzly Peak, similar to other river rapids rides found in other local parks such as Knott's and Six Flags Magic Mountain. The Travel Channel claims Grizzly is currently the fastest, largest, and tallest rapids ride in the world. However, River Quest in Phantasialand, Germany has since out-done it. Nearby is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail; an interactive playground area and amphitheater featuring characters from Disney's Brother Bear as well as a special entrance to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. We had fun in Grizzly Flats, where I can be seen coming out of a tunnel and Lara can be seen on the top of falling rocks. Did someone say fire-lookout? Let’s go! Be careful down those rope ladders. Falling rocks?

Pacific Wharf

The Pacific Wharf looks like it is based on Monterey's Cannery Row area. I thought I was being depicted in a John Steinbeck's novel. It did look similar to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf as well. Pacific Wharf contains a couple of restaurants, along with a beer truck and Margarita stand, plus a Mission tortilla factory, which features peep-shows on how tortillas were once made, working corn and flour tortilla machines, and a Boudin sourdough bakery, which has nearly the entire bakery visible behind glass. Rosie O'Donnell and Colin Mochrie were the tour guides. The sourdough and tortillas were yummy! Can we go again?

Entrance to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot

The Backlot is an area styled to appear as Hollywood streets and movie studios, with Hollywood-themed attractions. Yes, our picture was taken there too. A version of the Tower of Terror attraction opened in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot in 2004. Recently, a new attraction, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!, based on the characters from Monsters, Inc. opened in the attraction building, which used to house Superstar Limo. It was a fun, dark ride. There is a child in here! The 2000-seat Hyperion Theatre currently plays host to Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. OOOps we missed that one. Our pals said it is a good production though. Next time?

The Tower of Terror

The entrance to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, featuring two ceramic elephants sculptures atop columns, pays homage to a huge set constructed for the epic 1916 Hollywood film Intolerance directed by D.W. Griffith. This homage is echoed at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex in Los Angeles which currently houses the Academy Awards ceremonies at the Kodak Theatre, which also has elephant sculptures atop columns. Did I tell you how much Lara enjoyed the Tower? I think she might even be speaking to me now. Be right back, I need to check.

A Bug's Land

This small ride features Flik's Fun Fair, It's Tough to be a Bug! and the Bountiful Valley Farm, based on the Disney-Pixar film A Bug's Life, and offers kid-friendly rides, which Lara thoroughly enjoyed after the Tower. Can we go back to Screamin’ again? I’ll buy the entire Jane Austen collection? Watch out, a fork in the road!!!

Fun Fact: The palm trees in The Sunshine Plaza cost $13,000 each to purchase. Sean ordered thirteen for the backyard.

Other tidbits included of our visit to California Adventure were: Soarin’, eating yummies at the Warf, feeding the gulls and causing bird controversy, sitting for the Muppets Show, getting lost in California Grand Hotel before opening, and wandering across California. Do we have to visit the Central Valley again? Can we visit Mammoth Mountain, Lassen, Death Valley, San Diego, and Sacramento again to name a few? We can’t wait to explore another hot spot in California soon. I am not sure I can get Lara to Magic Mountain, but I am sure Big Trees State Park or Sequoia/Kings Canyon may be easier to convince her of. Write us if you think we need to visit someplace as fun. All in all, we had a great time. California Adventures is like the real thing and does compare to many places we have visited. See you soon adventure lovers and thrill seekers!

Signs of Life

From the rose garden--It's warmed up a bit here since that cold snap we had a couple weeks ago. See the wee buds? I think we'll have roses by St. Patrick's Day!

American River Revisited

They Finally Came In!
Our American River August 2006 Pictures

Click on the Picture above to see our favorites

California Adventures Pictures 2

California Adventures Pictures From Disney Photographers

Do we look scared? Here comes the Tower of Terror!

Eeeekkk!!!!

Teacher Life

It’s that time of year. Ugh. The end of 2nd semester, and Open House—a cosmic convergence that no teacher would allow to happen, but unfortunately, we do not have the power to set the school calendar. Classroom to decorate, bulletin boards to put up, portfolios to organize, papers to grade, report cards to complete—and all with a positive attitude and a smile—oh, and no sleep. And, I’m being sent to Florida in the middle of it all for a meeting. So yes, I’m feeling a bit stressed—I may not post for a couple of weeks, so perhaps my love will take up the slack. I thought you might like to see the work that awaits. Better get to it.

Prayers

Please say a prayer for our dear friend John and his family. John has been serving as a medic in Afghanistan for the last year. A day before his departure for his homecoming, he was informed that his tour was being extended until June. Exciting plans for a family reunion and vacation in Colorado had to suddenly be cancelled, and his family is trying to find their center again to wait a few more months.

John and family--thank you for this sacrifice you are making. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers until John is home. And then, we’ll celebrate!

Looking forward to everyone being together again….

Disney's California Adventure

Our trip to Disney's California Adventures

All our pictures can be found on the link below:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IYuGjlq4ZMWGu

James' Adventure to Catalina

One early Wednesday, January 10, 2007 all the seventh and eighth graders of my school were gathered with their luggage next to the rock wall on Yard 2. We were waiting for Mr. H, our middle school director to give us the "OK", to get on the bus to go to the Long Beach dock. So while I waited, I walked over to my friends and started talking with them about the activities we would have in Catalina. When Mr. H. said it was okay to load up the bus, we put our luggage in the luggage carrier and we were off on our middle school Catalina adventure.

After arriving at the dock, we put our stuff next to the rail overlooking the water. Just like we had waited to get on the bus, we had to wait to get on the boat. When the wait was finally over, we walked across the bridge that led to our boat. I was impatient and wanted to get on with the journey as soon as possible. Our boat was called The Catalina King and was white with red stripes. The inside of the boat was different than I thought it would be. It was carpeted and had a snack bar on the first floor. It also had a movie playing. On the second floor, there was a nice lounge area, a place to spend time with friends, and the top was outside. There are some benches there also in order to see the best part about the boat ride, the seagulls! Because the boat was going so fast, and the seagulls were going the same speed, it seemed like the birds were just hovering in space. I got some great pictures of them.

Seagull

When we got to Catalina, I grabbed my luggage and got out of the boat with my classmates. While waiting again, I saw some people standing on the side of the walkway who looked like hippies. Seriously! They had tie-dye shirts on and shorts or tie-dye pants. As I walked by, they all made a comment about my Mariners hat. How can anyone insult the Mariners? After the torment, the walk to the dorms was long and hard. We finally made it. When we did, we were asked to sit on the stairs and the main instructor talked to us about what we were going to be doing while we were here. When we were finished, Mr. G., our history teacher and a chaperone, told the boys who we were going to be in the dorms with. I was assigned to dorm with JM. and JF. We put our stuff away and then came back outside to see what groups we were in. I happened to be in Group Two with another great instructor, Mary. Mary was a very nice young lady and a great teacher. Our fist activity was algae lab. Don’t throw algae! When we were in the algae lab, we drew a picture of algae to be laminated. We also ate algae. I love algae. It tasted like spicy carrots! I do not recommend eating some unless you are eating in a restaurant that isn’t serving chicken strips.

After algae lab, we went to the fish lab. I love fish! We had to look for the answers in the lab for the quiz at the end of class. I got a picture in there, too! The room had a great model of a blue marlin. That was my favorite part. After we completed fish lab, we went to visit the sharks. There was a horn shark that was very rough, two bat rays that were soft, and a shovel-nosed guitar ray. We learned about sharks and how they were classified, as invertebrates and how they didn’t have any bones, only cartilage. After we had gone to all those labs, we went to a part of the campus where there was a place to play Sea Jeopardy. Group Two was the first group to get there. Then Group Three came, followed closely by Group One. We found our team names as well. We were the Piranhas. Group Three’s was the Royal Boneheads, and Group One’s name was the Air Bladders. We all started to play the game. We had questions about algae, sharks, fish, and body parts of fish. My group wouldn’t have won if wasn't for the Final Jeopardy. Group One won because they got the Final Jeopardy right. We then had free time and spent it by playing a game of football. After football, we went to a great dinner, and then to bed, well some of us did. Most of us just stayed up the whole night, going to friends' dorms to play cards, and other mischievous stuff. I stayed in bed and watched them play. I was good, mostly!Cool Blue Marlin

When we got up in the morning, we had one of the best things in the world to look forward to, snorkeling! After we had breakfast, which consisted of pancakes and eggs, we hurried to our dorms to get ready to go snorkeling! When we got to the dive deck, we got our three piece wetsuit on (with some difficulty) and then found our flippers and masks. We walked (ran) to the beach and did some warming-up exercises and then got in the water. The water was freezing! I dealt with it though because I knew I was going to see some awesome fish. We went into the water and saw lots of things, swam through a kelp forest (or at least I did. I don't think I was supposed to though), and we saw lots of fish and creatures. An example would be the California state fish, the Garibaldi. We saw lots of other fish that I don't know the names of as well. We also saw many rays. When we got back, it was a relief because I wasn't able to breathe. No one else was either. We were tired, stiff, and exhausted. We went back to the dorm and had some more free time spent by playing basketball. That night we heard a story and took turns going through a series of tunnels used by spies who trained during World War II. It was pitch black and officially made me claustrophobic. That night was pretty much the same as the previous night. No one went to sleep until 1:30.

The next morning we went snorkeling again but went to the opposite bay as yesterday. When we walked up to the beach and had our warm-up time, Mary was tightening some flippers and I walked out to beach. All the sudden, about five feet in front of me, I see this big gray thing come out of the water. I was scared! I thought it might be a dolphin, but then I remembered it didn't have a fin on its back. Then, I saw it again! About fifteen feet to my left, and this time, my friends and Mary saw it too. It poked its head out of the water and it had a small head and whiskers. It was a Harbor Seal. We got to snorkel right next to it and some of us petted it. It was so cool! The only bad thing was when we had to get out of the water. I couldn't move my hands because they were so cold. They were numb!

Dock

Later, after we snorkeled and got our wetsuits off, we went back to our dorms to pack. We had to leave shortly after and get to the boat. We had to wait for the other schools to get off first and then it was off to our homes. When we finally got on the boat, a lot of us were very sleepy… I wonder why? A lot of people got sick (don't worry, I didn't take any pictures of that) because the boat was really moving up and down. The ride was quick and the bus was there to take us away. I was sad that the adventure was over and school was fast approaching. The bus ride home was lots of fun though. My friends, Y and J were singing to us. Overall, Catalina was a great experience and I'm glad I got to enjoy it. I can’t wait to go back and see the fish, the kelp, the rays, the seals, the pals, and the fun.

Sleepy Campers

James, Dodger Dog 3

Look What I Found in Class Today

a nice reminder of why I teach....

Global Freezing

Letter Dad Submitted to Orange County Register: Global Freezing

Of course short term weather has little bearing on the validity of global warming theory, but the recent freezing weather in California, blizzards in Denver, and ice storms in the Mid-West, which have caused huge loses for agriculture, wreaked havoc with transportation, and will result in exorbitant heating bills, makes you wonder why we are so darned anxious to make the planet colder.

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy

Nestled outside the Irish village of Rossmore in Whitethorn Woods is the shrine of St. Ann's Well, which attracts many of the faithful and hopeful of Rossmore and many from well outside the borders of Rossmore, bringing visitors to this otherwise sleepy little town. Developers bring forward a controversial proposal to construct a bypass highway that would divert ever-increasing commuter traffic right through the Woods, thus destroying the sacred well. Worried that the shrine's days are numbered, villagers flock to the well, where they plead for everything from the restoration of a faltering love affair to a new baby to a mother’s health.

Instead of a straightforward narrative in which the outcome would be rather predictable (will the shrine be saved? duh!), Binchy creates a collection short stories, each focusing on a character in the town embroiled in various romantic and domestic crises. These vignettes are delicately and masterfully woven together, in a way that becomes more and more clear as the reader makes her way through the book. I was amazed by the voices of the characters in each story, from the diabolical machinations of a mother whose daughter has committed murder to the sad serenity of another whose child was kidnapped decades earlier. Amazing writing! This is a beautifully written tale of a traditional land and people threatened and challenged by the forces of change.

Congrats!

Happy Engagement, Calivalley Girl and Fiance!
Can't wait to see the secret-decoder ring!

The Bathroom Has Been Attacked

The Bathroom Has Been Attacked BY FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Master Bathroom


Guest Bathroom

Sean's Christmas Pumpkin

Sean’s Christmas pumpkin, need we say more?
Is it really green inside Sean?
Help me says Mr. Pumpkin, I am not feeling myself
Don't eat my seeds Ms. Lara, I don’t like to be eaten
Oh the joy of being carved, oh the joy of being left out on the porch guarding the front door, oh the wonder of all those cars driving by, I need to be inside by the fire with you all
No haunting in October, Just smiles in December
That means a happy face for the start of winter doesn’t it
Smiling-in a new year, hence the happy orange face
Who can say more about the happy pumpkin?

Last 2006 Tour for Sean and Lara

Please Note: Your tour will be announced over the PA system. While you wait for your tour to start, please discover the travels we have explored this weekend, browse the gift shops, dine at exquisite locations, and get on board the Sean and Lara Express. For everyone’s enjoyment, food, drinks, gum and smoking are not permitted on the tour.

This is the final 2006 tour and we hope you visit our Blog in 2007 for future tour departures. Now.. hold on, hands and arms inside the train at all times, and this will be the wildest weekend tour in the wilderness…

First stop on the S & L Express, Casa de Fruta, where gourmet food, gifts and holiday baskets are abound. At Casa, you can pick up some dried fruits, nuts, chocolate covered fruits and nuts, healthy fruit, wine, meat and cheese. You can ride the Casa De Choo Choo, eat in the Candy Casa or at the Deli Casa. There is even a Camping Casa. Can we ride the train again, Lara? Fun for the whole family awaits at Casa de Fruta. Pee stop complete, and on to our next station. All Aboard!

Our next station, the San Juan Bautista Mission, located in the Hollister, California. This is the heart of earthquake country. Back in 1797, a Roman Catholic pilgrimage led by Father Junipero Serra brought Christianity to the wilderness near this San Andreas Fault retreat. We visited the wilderness and our second mission together. This is the site of the 15th mission in the California Mission chain and some say this one is the most spectacular. The Franciscan friars chose the site at the foot of the Gavilan Mountains, which they named Mission San Juan Bautista, after St. John the Baptist. The Mission was actually founded by Father Fermin Lasuen, who wasted little time bringing the Catholic religion to the local Mutsun Indians. We even lit a candle to commemorate our visit. How did Sean get into the manger scene?

The present church structure was completed in 1812. It has seen continuous use since its founding. The property surrounding the Mission belongs to the State of California. Just a few steps inside the massive carved entrance doors, you will find authentic altar statues, marble painted wall decorations, a huge sandstone baptismal font, lovely gardens and winter-blooming roses, all in place since the church's founding.

We step back in time some two hundred years, entering the old sanctuary, which architecturally hasn't suffered the ravages of time or ruin. Although there was some earthquake damage in 1906, reinforcements over the years have helped prevent problems from tremblers. The site represents an historic visit which is an easy visit from San Jose on the 101.

All Aboard! Next Stop, the Winchester Mystery House, Last Call!!!

Aboard our mystery tour train, our next stop was the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. Lara has never been to a Victorian Spirit-filled Monolith before so we decided to visit. “Sara, we are coming for you!” Our tour guide said that in 1884, a wealthy widow named Sarah L. Winchester began a construction project of such magnitude that it occupied the lives of carpenters and craftsmen until her death thirty-eight years later. This is truly the most unusual Victorian mansion filled with unexplained oddities, which it has come to be known as the Winchester Mystery House.

We toured through 110 of the 160 rooms and looked for the bizarre phenomena that gave the mansion its name. “Sara, where are you?” We saw a window built into the floor, staircases leading to nowhere, a chimney that rises four floors and then stops, doors that open onto blank walls, and upside down posts, and unfinished rooms and an entry way that was never used. Theodore Roosevelt was even turned away at the front door and asked to use the servants’ entrance. He left shortly afterwards. No one has been able to explain the mysteries that exist within the Winchester Mansion, or why Sarah Winchester kept the carpenters' hammers pounding 24 hours a day for 38 years. It is believed that after the untimely deaths of her baby daughter and husband, son of the Winchester Rifle manufacturer, Mrs. Winchester was convinced by a medium that continuous building would appease the evil spirits of those killed by the famous "Gun that Won the West" and help her attain eternal life. Certainly her $20,000,000 inheritance was sufficient to support her obsession until her death at 82!

The Garden Tour was our last stop on the mystery train. A visit to the Winchester House is not complete until you have strolled through the beautiful Victorian gardens that surround it. Great care has been taken to restore the grounds to that time when Sarah Winchester had a full-time staff of eight gardeners, and imported trees, shrubs, and flowers from all parts of the world. Nearly 14,000 miniature boxwood hedges, large flowering Carolina cherry laurels, plants, and flowers have been replanted to provide beautiful color year-round. Numerous handcrafted European lead statues and elaborate fountains have been restored. We saw the original mythological statues, including Mother Nature, Cupid, a cherub, hippocampus, American Indian, deer, egret, frogs and swans. Mrs. Winchester's fascination with the supernatural is evident in the gardens, where we counted thirteen California Fan Palms lining the front driveway. I am hiring some of the gardeners to finish our backyard. Hmmmm! Guests also see the green house, garage, car wash, pump and tank houses.

All Aboard! Last station, San Jose, California, next stop, the San Joaquin Valley! After completing our tour of the House, we dined out in downtown San Jose. We ate at a fish place and tried for an early movie. Lara wanted to see Children of Men, but we were chased away after the theater over-sold the show. “I want my money back now….” And “Is that seat taken, Oh yes.” Then there should be seats left… ok my tirade for the evening… The S & L train left on schedule and we made it home to watch the Lake House instead (A very good movie by the way).

Please Note: Thank you for riding the S & L Express. After exiting the train, please watch your step, slowly walk to the exit, do not leave small children unattended, and secure your belongings at all times. Enjoy the rest of your evening and Happy 2006, Welcome 2007!!!!!!

S