Take Me Home

San Francisco was an experience.

It was nice to get away from the house for awhile.  It had been years since I'd been on a vacation.  The sights were fun.  The restaurants were nice.  The ocean was gorgeous.  The weather, not so much.  I guess they have a normal marine layer that sets in daily near the water.  Anytime we were at the beach, except for one day, it was grey and foggy.  Visiting the golden gate bridge, grey and foggy.  Not so much fun for photos, but still good photos.  We had the occasional sunny day for certain events.
The crowds was something I wasn't used to.  Not anymore.  I grew up in Dallas, I knew crowds and traffic and lines, etc.  We were all used to it at one time, but that has changed.  The traffic was awful, people were rude.  Not knowing where you are doesn't help when trying to get places and change lanes, and God Forbid someone let you in front of them.  Walking across the bridge with bikers was just nuts, I don't know how many times I was almost hit by people on bikes.  It was ridiculous and quickly reminded me why I love where I live.

We went to Alcatraz on our last day.  It was a neat experience and something I'd wanted to do for a long time, but not nearly as 'cool' as I thought it would be.  I realize it's a tourist attraction and I realize that many people want to see it, but the crowds and the kids and the strollers just kind of took away from the experience.  But hey, I got to go and it's pretty cool and that's pretty much it.

We were all ready to go home.  The drive home was easy.  No more traffic.  No more crowds.  Back to peaceful living......
and two large insane dogs, and smoke from fires, and a million tomatoes and raspberries to be picked, and constant watering to be done.

But I'll choose that any day over the traffic and crowds.

It's been almost a year.  Doesn't seem that long since I visited here last.  I was pretty sure when I signed in that I wouldn't remember the password and move on, but here I am.  The computer remembered for me.  Go figure. 

I can't imagine there's anything new to report that is any different than a year ago, except that in less than a week I'm headed to California for about 10 days.  I can't even remember the last time I took a trip.  My sister and I are driving through with my nephew, hopefully it's a fun drive and uneventful. 

It's been a hotter Summer than normal, which I hate.  The 90's here are awful and you just want to stay indoors.  You have to get all your outside work done before 11 and after 9pm.  Not so fun if you have mowing to do.  But as usual it won't last long and Fall will be here before you know it and I'm ready.  Bring on the cold weather and snow.

Not many bear this year.  Kind of good, but kind of boring.  I miss seeing them.  Not even many fawns yet, but it's still early.  I feel like I rarely pick up my camera these days and I don't really have a good excuse.  It's like I've 'seen it all before' and why take it again?  I dunno--- maybe San Francisco will renew the shutterbug.

Well, there ya go.  It's time to turn on or off some sprinklers and get ready to settle in for the 94 degree day.

I can't wait.