San Francisco Day 2, Friday 23 Nov 07

We got up bright and early to catch the friit ferry to Alcatraz. The hopped on the bus and asked the driver for help. A man back by the exit doors started yelling out directions so I went back to sit with him. Once I sat down I realized he had no teeth and his hands were covered in jailhouse tattoos. Hubby sat across the aisle so it was ok and he pointed out everything I needed on my map.



We made it to the pier 2 buses and a trolley later. Hubby later told me that we was worried that the icky bus guy was going to touch me. Then he would have to hit him. But he would have had to cover his fist fist so that he didn't actually touch him.



Once we made it to the pier. We slowly began to realize that everyone else thought they would beat the crowd and catch the first ferry as well. As we got closer we heard the guides yelling that everything was sold out - the first tour available was Sunday morning - when we were leaving. All the tickets had been pre-sold over the Internet. I was devastated. We walked all over the pier looking for another operator even though we were told there was only the one. We ended up booking a Bay cruise under the bridge and around Alcatraz for later in the morning and a Muir woods tour on Saturday morning.



The Bay Cruise was really nice. It was a bit cool, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Hubby was busy taking shots of the bridge and Alcatraz. It was hard not to hate all the people getting off the ferry to begin their tour knowing that we came all this way and I was going to miss out on the number one thing that I wanted to see.



After the tour we started walking around the pier area some more. We decided to take a trolley ride around the city. We walked past a tourist tent set up on the corner. ON a whim I stopped to see if they had anything available for Alcatraz - they did! The only catch was that it was for a time share. We would have to sit through the presentation, then the hard sell, but we would get to see Alcatraz. I was thrilled. It was worth a few hours of my time. The first problem was that the next tour was at the same time as out Muir woods tour. If we could get the tour times switched we would be fine. I was willing to try, but Hubby felt that I was making a deal with the devil and we would rearrange everything and sit through the presentation and not really get the tickets. He talked me out of it, but I wasn't happy. We did agree to go back to the pier and see if anyone was scalping tickets.



There were no apparent scalpers so we sat there dejected. There was security guard monitoring the entrance to the parking lot. I sat and started at him for a while. Finally I asked Hubby if he would mind if I tried to bribe the guard with and extra $100 to get on a ferry. He said he would talk to him. He ended up asking him if he knew of anyone who scalped tickets. He said there was a guy down the other end of the piers who usually had extra tickets. Hubby though he was talking about the time share devil. Just in case, he asked a rickshaw kid. The kid knew the guy and peddled down the street to him. Less than 5 minutes later we had 2 tickets for the last tour of the day. It was worth the embarrassment of being on a rick saw.

We killed time wondering around the streets and riding trolleys. Finally we boarded the ferry and we were off. There were 300 people on the tour, but it didn't seem crowded. The sun was just going down as we got there and walked up the path to the prison building. We all got headsets for the guided tour. It was fantastic. Everyone moved around as they told to. A few times I paused my tape to look around or spend a few extras minutes somewhere. It was so quiet. Everyone was listening to their tape, no one was talking. A few people were pointing and a few more were snapping pictures.

The cells were smaller than I imagining. Some were set up as they would have been. The 3 that escaped using fake heads were marked and set up on display. Al Capone's cell was marked, but it was on the 2nd story so we could see it, but couldn't walk up to look inside. We could look out at the prison yard, but we were not allowed outside. The eating area still had sections with the original floor. The tour tape pointed our attention to the riot gas canisters in the ceiling. They were never used.

We were able to walk through the infirmary. It was dark by then and a few rooms only had lanterns. It was a fantastic effect. We saw the Birdman's cell in the infirmary. He studied birds, but never had any as pets.

We started to walk down the path on our way back to the dock. Another couple had stopped to talk to one of the tour guides and he pointed out the morgue. We were about to keep going when I head him offer to take them inside. I grabbed hubby and we headed over to get in on the action. Another man was walking by and we was invited in as well. Once the 5 of us were inside the door was closed so no one else could come in.

The morgue is a small building built against a cliff under the prison building. It was used before the prison, when Alcatraz was a fort. The original table for the autopsy was there with drainage grooves for fluids and a catch area in the floor. The back wall was rock and 4 door s covered the holes that were carved into the rock to store bodies. There was a small opening on one side of the room - it was a tunnel that turned a few times before opening into a larger room. They used to store powder kegs there. We went through one at a time with a flashlight. It was awesome.

When we got back on the ferry we could hear other people talking about how some people got to go into the morgue. It was great knowing that we were one of the 5 out of 300 that got the special treat.

San Francisco Day1, Thursday 22 Nov 07

The Boy and Girl spent their Thanksgiving Break up in Canada with their father.

9 days - kids + 4 day weekend = TRIP!!

We got a great deal on a flight and hotel and flew out Thursday morning. Early Thursday morning. Up at 4:30 at the airport at 6AM. I was zombified. I don't fly well at the best of times, so the thought of it sends be to the bathroom every 5 min.

The DFW airport was amazing - got a great parking spot, checked in ad ntrough security in less than 15 minutes. Egg McMuffin to keep the growlies away and then off to the first of many bathroom trips. The latch on the first stall was broken, so was the second. By the third stall I finally figured out it was a slide lock and not a turn lock. Hubby got a good laugh.

Flight was on time, driver was at the curb less than 5 minutes after we called. Yes, we treated ourselves and had a car (not a limo) drive us to the hotel. We had lots of time so the driver drove us all over the city pointing out the sights, including the cool "S" portion of Lombard.

(insert photo here)

We got checked in to the hotel and got a taxi to China Town. It was a fantastic experience walking up and down the streets, lots of colors, the people were pleasant, lots of cool stuff to look at in the shops. The ivory carvings stood out. Amazing details. In several shops there were cooked chickens/ducks hanging in the windows. I happened to look over my shoulder as we passed one shop - several men were in the doorway talking and I happened to see what the subject was. A flour bag was in the corner with just the corner torn open. Out of the corner popped a large white duck head. I stopped and stared. One man looked at me and said 'duck'. Yes, I know my farm animals, but had to ask 'are you going to eat it?' He just grinned and nodded, saw my expression and nodded some more. All the men laughed.

We walked form Chinatown down to the wharf area. We passed the wharf for the trips to Alcatraz and noted the times so we could catch the first tour the next morning. Walked along to Pier 37 - the tourist trap. We walked the length of it and looked at all the shops and restaurants. Luckily neither of us are shoppers.

We decided to catch the bus back to the hotel, have a nap and head out again at night for a nice dinner. We only needed to transfer once and the drivers were great about telling us where to get off. We crawled into bed at 4:45 PM and that was it for me until 7AM the next morning.

Poor hubby tried to wake me for supper, but I was warm and cozy and I wasn't moving. He went to the 7-11 and got some individual frozen pizzas for supper. I had a bite of his and went back to sleep. He couldn't even rouse me with m&ms.

The next morning he said the 7-11 people thought he was pathetic getting frozen pizza for his Thanksgiving Dinner. Little do they know - better that than anything I would have cooked.

I want Sticker Boots

The Boy has reached the awkward ‘tween age of 12 where I have no idea what to buy him anymore. It is always nice to have a few surprises under the tree for Christmas, but I do make the kids give me a list of ideas.

This year The Boy has requested a zipper binder with a strap on it. A zipper binder was on his list of school supplies - we went to Walmart, looked at them all and he picked one out. None of them had straps.

I get shivers when he asks me for something that I have never heard of nor seen before. He started preschool when he was 3 and shortly thereafter he came home requesting Sticker Boots. I immediately get worried that my kid is going to be an outcast because he is the only one without the new cool Sticker Boots. Off to Walmart we go.

Nothing at Walmart, Toys R Us or any store. Internet searched turn up nothing. I set up a meeting with the teachers at the preschool - work the Sticker Boots into conversation - nope, never heard of them.

After a few months of desperation, I sit down with The Boy. I try to ease the heartbreak and explain everything I have done to find the Sticker Boots. I beg him to tell me who has them so I can find the parents of the elusive boots. No one. Has he seen them on TV - no. A book - nope.

Finally I ask him to explain in detail what they look like and why does he want them. The Boy is deadly serious when he explains that they are boots that you wear to walk up the walls and 'stick' to the ceiling. He thinks they would be a cool thing to have.

Yes, The Boy is still alive. I have asked him three times over the last month if the binder with the strap actually exists. Maybe in another week I will go to the store, but I haven't even been able to muster up the courage to google it yet.

This is my life

Ok - this was a bit more that just a typical day.

We have been in the US for 3 months. Since I was the lucky transfer candidate, I got to go to work right away. Hubby has been hitting the gym and making up for lost time on the golf course. Hubby started work yesterday. This is good, but it means adjusting to a new routine.

I commute an hour each way, with a passenger. I had to add picking up The Girl from school to my drive home. The Boy has Drama until 6pm. Got The Girl, got home, no keys. I go in and out through the garage with the handy-dandy garage opener. Security Guy locked up before his first day so the garage/house door was locked.

Going through my head - Girl has homework, Pick up Boy at 6, Supper, wrestling meeting for parents 6:30, Girl dance class 7:30. I guess we are eating out and wait until one of the Boys gets home with a key. I turn to tell her the good news and The Girl has the gotta-go dance happening. I weigh up the options:

1. sending her to the neighbors and fessing up that I am a loser; or

2. 5 min drive to the deli and risk dealing with an accident.

Off to the Deli, we made it! The Girl got to work on her homework, I had a healthy salad and we split a cookie. Hubby actually met us there and it was a nice treat. 6PM - Hubby and The Girl head off to return movies, I am off to get The Boy at drama, feeling good even though I am going to be a few minutes late.

I pull up to the school, call his cell, no answer. I know it is sitting in the charger where he put it last night. I call home - no answer. Call Hubby - hasn't heard from him. I head into the school to search for him, starting to get worried, the phone rings when I am half way through the first lap .

Hubby has made it home. Drama was cancelled. The Boy took the bus home, forgot his house key, hung out at the neighbors. Doesn't know our cell numbers because they are in his cell phone, which is sitting on the charger in the house he is locked out of. I guess the neighbors found out I'm a loser anyway.

With all the excitement, I ended up skipping the wrestling parent info meeting, now I have to suck up to the coach to get the info I missed and he will find out about my loser-ness too.