What a Weekend!

I told my husband that I would get him a small boat for Father's Day, just to paddle around, fish, maybe attach a small electric motor to. I told him to do the research and tell me what he wanted. I was a bit surprised when he came back and told me he wanted a kayak instead. Long ago at summer camp I played around with them so it sounded like a good plan to me to.

Friday night we went out and bought a sit on top tandem kayak along with all the necessary gear. We were excited to try it out right away so Saturday morning we set out for Coyote Lake, a lovely place near our home that in addition to boating has camping and picnic areas. All boats need to be inspected these days in California because of the mussel problem. After that we launched and everything was great!

For about two minutes. Then the kayak started lurching to one side and then the other. I thought Jim was moving around but he said he thought we were taking on water. Strange. The kayak was lower in the water and the lurching got scarier until in the middle of the lake we were hurled off the side and the kayak turned over. We had life jackets and scrambled to get our belongings which were either sinking or floating away. With some trouble Jim managed to turn it over and held it steady while I climbed in. It was too low in the water for him to climb in though.

At this point we were a little closer to the other side of the lake so he swam and I paddled the kayak over with great difficulty. Once we got there Jim tipped it up and gallons and gallons of water came out. Wow, no wonder we lurched but how did all the water get in? Jim said the inspector had not re-latched the whatever-it's-called so he thought that was how it got in.

At this point Lake Patrol showed up and instead of asking us what was wrong, read us the riot act for being on the wrong side of the lake. We were standing there sopping wet, telling him we were taking on water but he just said, it looks dry now so you can get moving. Nice! He finally did ask us if we needed a tow but since we thought the problem was solved we said no.

We got back in the kayak and started paddling. It soon began doing the same thing and we had to stop again (still on the wrong side of the lake) to empty it. Finally Jim turned it over and inspected it closely. Up in one of the scupper holes was a hole. A hole in our brand new kayak! What to do? Lake Patrol had disappeared so we were on our own again. Jim got a brilliant idea. He took an apple, ate around it to fit the scupper hole and shoved it in. It worked! We paddled across the lake with no incident and actually enjoyed ourselves doing it. But obviously we were done for the day.

We loaded it up and later, Jim took it back to the store and exchanged it. This time he and the sales guy inspected it thoroughly beforehand and the replacement kayak seemed fine. But we had to know for sure so we went to the lake again on Sunday after church. The inspector was a little surprised to see us with another brand new kayak and really got a kick out of our story. He laughed and laughed. He especially enjoyed the Murphy's Law of getting pitched out in the middle of the lake.

But this time the kayak worked perfectly and we paddled around the entire lake. We realized that kayaking is really fun when you're not sinking and are looking to learning more about it. My arms feel like jello today but I had a great time.

We are overgrown!

We have a tiny litttle yard and try to keep it in good order so I can fit everything in that I want to grow. But things are getting too big. I love my big puffy hydrangea but they are taller than me in spots.

And this is where I threw some larkspur and wildflower seeds last year. I love that purple larkspur.

But these poppies! They are covering the whole walkway back here.

I just can't bear to cut them away though. The show is going to be over in a few weeks until next year. My husband can carry the lawnmower around the front until then.

Jeff and Claudia's Wedding Part 2 - The Reception

Jeff's best man and good friend is a scientist that works at the Museum of Natural History in San Diego. We had the reception on the roof of the building. How cool is that!

Here is the view from the roof. The camera was held at an angle so it looks funky.

Nico was pretty hot and wanted to go play in the fountain. The reception had not officially begun so Jim and I took him down there. He persuaded me to dip my feet in while he got soaked.

The place settings were very pretty. Jeff is a chef and made all the food including the wedding cake. As always, everything was delicious.

This is the couple with Claudia's sister and brother, I think. Unfortunately both her parents have passed away. Several of her relatives came up from Columbia for the wedding. I speak Spanish muy mal and also didn't get to meet everyone.

Claudia's friend Olga, me, Susan, and Claudia's Matron of honor. It bothers me that I can't remember her name because she is such a nice person. It's hard when there are so many new people.

The bride and groom with Jim and Sabina.

Jim Sr. dancing with the bride.

Nico and Hannah at the rail. They were the only two kids there and she was following Nico around like a puppy dog wanting to dance. I had to tease him about it.

Jim and his mom.

The Bell Sister/SILs. Actually many years ago Jeff changed his last name to Campagna, which I believe is the Italian for Bell.

Claudia is a very talented dancer.

I don't have any pictures of the toast, or toasts is more like it. Everyone had a say it seemed. I was very busy yelling "Salut!" and drinking toast after toast of champagne. By the time it was over my glass was empty and I almost forgot to take pictures of them cutting the cake!

Claudia didn't throw the bouquet because Susan was the only single woman there. Besides little Hannah! I think this guy was the only single man there too, come to think of it. Too bad they didn't hit it off!

We had a lovely time and was sad when it was over. Many blessings Jeff and Claudia!

Jeff and Claudia's Wedding - Part One

We just got back from San Diego where my brother-in-law Jeff was married last weekend to his love, Claudia. We had a wonderful time and it was great to see everyone which is getting harder to do the older we get. The wedding was held on the beach at the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. I took this picture as we walked across the parking lot towards the hotel. We parked on one of the side streets and remarkably, ended up just yards away from where the wedding ceremony was being held. How's that for a wedding day miracle!

Here I am standing in front of the sign. The weather was gorgeous that day and I had no need for my sweater.

This is the back of the hotel. There are lots of shops and lounges, both inside and out, that one can hang out at. They were getting ready for some celebrity function, thank goodness we missed that.

After a couple calls, we finally met up with Jim's dad, Jim Sr. I wanted a picture of the two of them.

Then Jim Sr. took a picture of just Jim and me since I had a feeling we would not get one once the wedding and reception started. I was right. After this we were busy mingling, meeting Claudia's relatives, taking pictures, and having fun!

We had a nice dinner the night before with my in-laws and their best friends Ron and Carlene who took their motor home down south. I didn't get any pictures there because the restaurant was dark, noisy, and everyone was tired from traveling. There was a snafu in my in-laws flight booking, so they had to deal with that on top of the normal travel inconveniences. That is the Pacific Ocean in the background.

We walked down to the spot where the wedding was held and met Jeff, Scott, and some of Claudia's relatives. Here is Jeff with his parents.

And here are the Bell men. Jim Sr., Jeff, Jim, and Nico down in front. Claudia showed up in the car only moments before the ceremony started so we couldn't take any pre-wedding pictures of her.

I was sitting in the front row so I couldn't resist snapping a couple of shots during the ceremony.
In a prim, dignified sort of way of course!

Some ceremonies have the couple using individual candles to light a single one. Here they had small bottles of colored sand that they pored into a single bottle. Very beach-y.

Afterwards they posed for lots of pictures like the top one. Here we have the couple with Scott, the best man, matron of honor, and Nico, the ring-bearer.





More next time from the reception, which was held in a very unusual spot.

We're Going out of Town

Just for the weekend. Jim's brother is getting married so we are traveling down to San Diego for the big event. It sounds like it will be lovely. They are getting married on Coronado Beach and the weather is supposed to be perfect. I'll take lots of pictures and see you when I get back!

I Got My Classes!

I know, I know, in a couple semesters this will be just one more chore on the to-do list, but for now I'm excited!

This summer I am taking Communications 1A. I took Debate over at SJSU but it won't work for the nursing requirements. Public speaking doesn't bother me so this is a good way to ease back into college life. Most of my GE requirements have been accepted from my transcripts with a few exceptions.

This fall I am taking:

Math 233 - Intermediate Algebra (Algebra 2)

AH 3 - Person in the Life Cycle (Nursing Prerequisite)

Psy 1A - General Ed and Nursing Prerequisite

Bio 10 - Principles of Biology. Because I took this GE class at SJSU the counselor said I could skip this and go straight to the medical Biology classes. That class was 25 years ago and not only is everything pretty much forgotten, but alot has happened since then in the world of science. I don't want to be at a disadvantage and starting over seems like a good decision. It won't change my application to the nursing program timetable so I figured why not?

With 18 units I am considered a full time student. I need a backpack now!

A Great Weekend

This Mother's Day weekend was really fun. It started on Saturday when Jim took me to lunch and then a shopping spree at Barnes and Noble. My new books will be posted in the next couple of days in my reading room here. On Sunday we went to see Star Trek and it was fantastic! We all loved it and want to see it again. Then we had a barbecue and afterwards when Geoff had to go to work, Jim wanted to go to Barnes and Nobel again so I got a few more books. That is a great weekend for me!

We have some extra money coming in that will be used for my tuition and school supplies (a new laptop!) and the usual, property taxes and homeowners insurance. But there will be some left over and we have been trying to decide whether to get a new refrigerator or a big screen TV. We decided on the TV. I figure, our fridge is working fine, I just don't like side by sides. We have been wanting a big screen for years and kept putting it off because it is not practical.

Screw practical, we are going for it!

Elizabeth could not make it home because of work but she already put in some time off for her birthday in December. Seems a long ways away but it goes by fast. We are getting her a new laptop as well since hers is dying, though it lasted much longer than we thought it would.