Exceedingly Busy Month

I was in New York for the month of October visiting my daughters, driving around researching answers for a need of a loved on.  Then unexpectedly, I spent about 10 days with my youngest granddaughters because each was home from school for five days on separate occasions, due to illness.  When the younger child returned to school, the older child became ill.

I was very, very busy.  I think I put about 600 miles in a borrowed car just doing local driving.  I appreciated the time I spent with my daughters and granddaughters.  And, I was very grateful to be needed.  Time is fleeting and every moment precious.

Here in San Diego, I've established a routine of exercise, knitting and teaching knitting, playing Words with Friends with mostly younger friends, staying up-to-date with social media, and occasionally meeting friends for lunch.

When I visit New York, I usually am able to visit long-time friends.  Not this time, though.

My friend, Katie, who always makes time to drive up from the City when I'm in town, joined me for lunch at Homespun Foods on Main Street in Beacon NY.  They have a garden in the rear of the restaurant.  It was a very busy place.  Since it was 'Second Saturday' in Beacon, I found the atmosphere chaotic. When we sat down in the garden, the scene was calmer, with the buzz of conversation from other tables.  I chose a cheese and fruit platter for lunch.  It was delicious and refreshing.  It was too large a serving for me, so home it came in a box. I do recommend this restaurant and would lunch there on another visit to New York.

One of my daughters decided I needed a break.  So, that same evening, she and her daughter drove to Beacon and took me to a painting class.  I chose a fairly simple painting to copy.  My daughter purchased a tiny bottle of wine for me, which I hardly touched.  Unlike all the other patrons, I was unable to relax as I worked on the painting.  My granddaughter suggested that next time, I just paint whatever I want....a good suggestion.  However, I don't know if there will be a 'next time.'  For me, it was too stressful.

My 'busyness' resulted in a month that just literally sped by.  Hopefully, next year, I'll visit more.  Maybe next year, I'll obtain colorful fall photos.  Maybe next year, we'll have time for a game of cards.  I always enjoy seeing my daughter's friends and all the delightful banter that ensues. 

Maybe next year, I'll visit Ireland and climb Croagh Patrick.  Maybe next year, I'll cruise through the Panama Canal.  I always wanted to go through the locks. That's why I wanted to go through the Canal instead of to the Canal.  Who knows what adventures I may enjoy next year.

I read that Tiffany's in New York opened a Cafe.  I will definitely 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' in the Spring.  It was one of my favorite movies, way back when.... 

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Perhaps by Catherine Hall (on Kindle and the Nook) 

The Book of Micah by Catherine Hall (on Kindle and the Nook) 

Final Days of My New York Visit

Beautiful sky in Maine



Last weekend (January 3 and 4) I accompanied my Beacon daughter and children from New York to Sunday River, Maine.  We stayed over Saturday night (January 3) with very gracious friends in New Hampshire.  As we entered Plaistow, New Hampshire, I was struck by how the roads were not plowed.  I guess the residents are used to it.  

The next morning we drove on to Sunday River.  Below are some pictures that I was able to get.  The photo above was taken through the front window of the car.  I took the photo on the lower right because the glistening ice on the small trees was beautiful.  The covered bridge on a converted walking trail was such a nice surprise.



This past weekend, I returned to San Diego.  Both New York and San Diego were engulfed in fog.  After an almost two hour delay in New York, we were off and running....that is, flying.  I enjoyed my visit in New York, but due to the very low temperatures, I was very happy to be returning to San Diego.  The New York temperatures ranged from -3 to 15 and 16.  I hibernated during those days as well as during the six snow storms the area experienced.  Early in my visit, I hung the little seed bell, hoping to get a good picture.  I took weeks, but finally the birds came around.  When I opened the door to take the picture, they would fly away.  However, I finally succeeded getting a picture of the Tufted Titmouse, shown below.

Tufted Titmouse

I'm looking forward to getting back to my usual routine in San Diego.  That is, after I thaw out.

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The Book of Micah

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Candy

During my visit last Spring to New York, I observed one of my daughters asking her son if she could borrow his cell phone.  Then, on another evening, she asked her daughter the same thing.  Then, my daughter would proceed to do something on the phone.  Finally, she told me that she was playing a game that she wasn't able to get on her own cell phone.  So I watched this go on and on, night after night.

Then, as I moved to another New York daughter's house, I discovered she used a tablet to access the same game.  I was curious so I asked her if I could try her game.  Before I knew it, I was hooked and she was without her tablet.  I would wear down her battery with this game.  It was mesmerizing.   Everyday, the same question.... "Can I please use your tablet?"  My daughter all but lost her access to her own tablet....her own tablet.  Imagine that.  How do you tell your own mother "No" for such a simple request to use her tablet?  After all, her mother's life was so small.  Her mother needed the intellectual stimulation.  When I finally left to return to San Diego, I'm sure she had a "Candy Crush" party.  I always tell my sons-in-law that they probably have a "Lower the Heat" party in the winter after I've left to return to San Diego.  They always respond, "No, no, there is no party."  But, I don't know because I do know that they raise the heat regardless of the expense of more fuel just to make me more comfortable.  They are so good to me.

Well, back to Candy Crush.  I've been bitten.  The day after I arrived home, I set myself up with this game.  I saw how a number of my Facebook friends were entrenched in it as well.  In playing the game, after 5 unsuccessful tries, there is a waiting period before playing the game again.  However, sometimes the waiting period is 25 minutes, but other times it is 3 minutes.  When it is as little as 3 minutes, I can do something else and then, in three minutes, get back to the game.  Whoever designed this game was expert at keeping you engaged if you were so weak-willed, which I discovered I was.  The only strength I've been able to muster was in determining that I would not pay for the tools that appeared for sale when you could not win that level in the game.  I am now at level 80 waiting for some of my kind friends to help me across a bridge so I can proceed with the game.

Yesterday, though, I had an awakening.  Every morning I have my coffee while checking my emails and friend's posts on Facebook.  Then, I always break away to read my Bible.  You see, in my estimation, it's okay to be half-awake reading my emails, etc.  Don't get the wrong idea.  My friends and what they have to share with me are very important.  I just feel I am awake enough for incoming correspondence, just not my daily calling in relation to my Lord and Saviour.  The Bible is a "mainstay" in my life.  Then, later in the day, it's back on Facebook again to play the game.

Yesterday, I got so engrossed in Candy Crush that I had no time to read my Bible before I had to leave the house for an appointment.  At that point, I decided I had to resist the lure of the game from now on.  After all, is a game really all that important?  Actually, at this point, "Yes."  But I will endeavor to put first things first from now on, even though I still hear the music in my head.

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Travel Costs

Next month I will be visiting New York for my fourteen year old granddaughter’s Confirmation.  I plan to stay long enough to celebrate my youngest granddaughter’s first birthday.

Many people remark that they don’t understand how I can fly to the East Coast so frequently.  Actually, I visit there about two to three times a year.  Since I have children and grandchildren on both the East and West Coasts, I make it my business to see them all as much as possible.

The website, Wikipedia, states, “San Diego has on average 146 sunny days and 117 partly cloudy days a year. “  To avail myself of this good weather (no ice, no snow), I live in San Diego, California.  Thus, I unfortunately forgo the children’s birthdays, concerts, moving up ceremonies, and this year, my eldest grandson’s graduation from high school....sounds heartless, doesn’t it?  But I believe it’s better to have a grandma in good health, than not.

So far, I have been able to visit at least twice a year.  In order to accomplish this, I comb the Internet for good airline prices.  This year I joined Airfarewatchdog (http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/).  There was no fee to join.  However, this website is usually for someone who can pounce on the opportunity and buy immediately, or someone who has very fluid travel plans.  Since I plan my visits around an event in the family, it hasn’t proved useful to me.  I usually check out:
Cheapoair ( http://www.cheapoair.com/),
Orbitz ( http://www.orbitz.com ),
Travelocity ( http://www.travelocity.com ), and
Expedia ( http://www.expedia.com ), as well as the airlines’ websites.
Over the years, I’ve used them all.  And, I select flights with the most reasonable cost; that is, the most reasonable cost in my estimation.  I have never, so far, encountered any problems using these services. Though sometimes I have to fly into JFK, Albany, or North White Plains to get the lowest price.  My quest is to keep my ticket cost under $300.  My daughter in Queens, NY would love it if I flew into LaGuardia Airport (near her home), but flights into that airport are usually much more expensive.   Earlier this year, I used Southwest.  For an extra $10, you can get a “priority” number for boarding.  On Southwest, this is important since this airline doesn’t assign seats.  It was worth the $10.

Also, it pays to enlist help from people who are adept at finding good fares.  My daughters always notify their Queens NY sister when they are looking for flights because she is very good at it.  She has helped me a number of times.  Though in all fairness, my other daughters are getting much more adept at it. 

This time I picked Expedia because it advertised a $266 fare from San Diego to Newburgh, NY (an airport usually out of my price range).   After taxes, the complete cost is $328.80.  I’ll let you know how I make out.

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All Quiet on the Home Front

It is now 3:50am. It is 70 degrees and I'm awake. I guess our real summer is arriving here in San Diego. Of course, it is nothing to complain about with other parts of the US suffering under much higher temperatures. When I moved from New York to San Diego, my co-workers kept telling me that our "real" summer would occur in August and September. Well, it turned out to be true. It pays to listen to the locals.

With our visitors from New York having returned home, life has settled back into the regular routine. My San Diego grandchildren have been going to camp or preschool.

When the teenage grandchildren arrived from New York, the first question my 14 year old grandson asked was "How come you call your highways the 5, the 405, the 15, etc?" Well, I don't know. Practically every East Coast visitor has asked that. In the Northeast, highways are identified as "Route 9, Route 95, etc.", except for "the Turnpike", "The Garden State" or "the Thruway". Also, here in San Diego located on the Pacific Ocean, we go to the beach. On the East Coast, if we are going to the ocean, it is called "the shore", like "Jersey Shore." If you are going to Long Island, it is "the island", or "the Hamptons" if you are uber-rich. I'm sure other areas of the US have their own terminology.

So, onto other summer adventures. I'm looking forward to visiting my son's family in Redondo Beach. I'll use Amtrak for that trip and will, of course, share that with you.

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Bronx Zoo Trip

In April, I flew to New York and enjoyed a day at the Bronx Zoo with 11 other members (11 adults and 5 children) of my family. We were celebrating the fortieth birthday of my daughter, who decided on spending her day this way.

The Bronx Zoo is located in a highly populated area of New York City in the borough called the Bronx. The picture of the buffalo with the tall apartment building in the background shows how close it is to everyday life. The other scenes show how the zoo provides a respite as well as educating the public about our wildlife.


We arrived early enough to see the California Seals presentation, which included watching them being fed. The family really enjoyed it. I, being able to see the Seals whenever I choose, sat on the sideline. Then, they all moved on to the Monkey House. The children came out, calling me inside to see some of the Monkeys’ antics. After this, they made their way to the reptile house, definitely not my cup of tea. I preferred to take pictures of the peacock. As we traveled through the zoo, my daughters spotted the children’s section. They took the children, ages 9 through 16, in to see what they had previously enjoyed as youngsters. They went into the prairie dog town and popped up in acrylic openings in the hill. Then they all climbed the ropes resembling a spider’s web, posing for a photo, obviously to tall for this area. It was still fun.





For lunch, a picnic was provided by the birthday girl. My eldest daughter brought very fancy cupcakes and one candle. Much to the dismay of the birthday girl (that she quickly got over), we sang “Happy Birthday” and ate the cupcakes.

Due to a grandchild’s scheduled soccer game, half the party left and the remainder proceeded with the day. After a ride on the Merry-go-Round, a visit to the Butterfly House was quite a treat. You walk in among the butterflies and watch them as they gracefully flit from plant to plant.


As a busy day ended, we were ready for a Starbucks. Alas, the people we asked told us of places that were well off our route. Finally, we took an exit of the highway and, low and behold, there was a Starbucks. A great day was had by all.

Actually, earlier in the day, the family agreed that we should do this again on someone else’s birthday, but as time marches on the family is just too busy again.

Welcome to my first blog

I call myself a "bi-coastal grandma" because I have three children and their families on the East Coast and three children and their families on the West Coast.

After September 11, 2001, I left New York and moved to San Diego, CA. I enjoy the sunlight and while I miss my East Coast family, I don't miss the ice and snow. Retiring in the later part of 2007 enabled me to visit the East for longer periods of time. I've been so blessed to have sons-in-law who don't mind the really long stays. During the last storm that left 2 to 3 feet of snow in Dutchess County, NY, as I was comfy and warm in San Diego, I kept close watch over the Internet. It amazed me that I could speak with my daughter in Beacon via cell phone and read her the Poughkeepsie Journal on-line and tell her the condition of her town since she had no electricity for four days.

Since retiring, I've made it a practice to take long walks, which opened up a whole new world to me. Here in San Diego, I walk through Balboa Park with its beautiful plants and museums. Each Tuesday the admission to one or more of the museums is free to residents. It's a very beautiful park and worth the visit. Last year, I walked along the beach and will start again soon. As I walk, I take photos of what I find interesting.

When visiting New York, I usually attempt to walk a lot, taking many pictures. This past Christmas I found just too cold so I hibernated in my daughters houses. Walking the Beacon-Newburgh Bridge is quite an experience. Hyde Park has seven nature trails. I'll write about those experiences another day.