The Surprise Just Around The Cape...

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow,

 rest this afternoon."

~Charles M. Schulz

Charlie Brown's Little Book Of Wisdom

October was such a busy month, we did a lot of things on vacation, we went a lot of places, but we also kept to our traditions for the most part, one example being taking a ride on the amphibious vehicle tour, Ride The Ducks. Every year we catch a waiting duck, and tour North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, the Financial District, South of Market and AT&T Park, then hold on tight as we slide off a ramp into the gorgeous San Francisco Bay! Once in the water we tour past military ships at dock, and float over to McCovey Cove, just out in the water, to the right of the ballpark!

As you might imagine while on the tour we see some marine and bird life, but on this voyage, we were treated to a rare up close and personal treat of a sea lion sunning himself on the ship Cape Horn, and laughing at us as we floated past him! What a beautiful noise they make! I love them, they are another thing about San Francisco that keeps me head over heels in love with the place! 

He was a great surprise!

What a great place to nap! And what a great way to see a sea lion up close! The Ride The Ducks tour is a lot of fun. Take the tour if you ever visit San Francisco! I am a Bay Area native, and I always learn something new from the tour! It's awesome!

:)

Leaf Of The Day

Pier 39 Seal Lion Cam

Seal Lion Facts

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Last Day Of Vacation Part Two...

"In matters of healing the body or mind, vacation is a true genius!"

~Mehmet Murat ildan

After we finished at Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed into Marin for dinner. We had a Groupon for an Italian restaurant in San Rafael. The restaurant name, Gaspare's, may sound familiar to you, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you might remember it  as the name of the Italian restaurant Woody Allen used in the movie Blue Jasmine. But the one we visited the other day, while still owned by the same family, was their Marin County restaurant, as opposed to their Geary Boulevard restaurant that was seen in the film. Same food, different location.

The drive into Marin was nothing short of breathtaking, but I always get a little sentimental about that bridge, no matter how many times I see it, I always feel like I am seeing it for the very first time. I love it so much. And I love Marin County. It had been a long time since we drove along the shore of Sausalito, and weaved our way through the hills of that part of Marin. It was the perfect way to bring our vacation to a close, and so was eating at Gaspare's. The pizza was delicious, and the service impeccable, and we had a very good time, reminiscing about the best parts of our vacation. We had a blast this vacation! I kinda love doing the staycation thing, and pretending to be a tourist! I like coming home to my own bed at the end of the day!

November 5th, 2014 Part Two

Marin County Vista

 The View From Sausalito

 

Gaspare's Italian Restaurant

Yummy... Gaspare's, I will be back for more of your delicious food.

Next time San Francisco!

Jasmine's booth please!

Thanks Woody, wherever you are!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Last Day Of Vacation Part One...

"Nothing is unbelievable, just expand your vision."

~Saru Singhal

Rousing Cadence

As the title says, yesterday was the last day of our vacation for 2014. We had an amazing time. We spent a lot of time at attractions in and around Fisherman's Wharf, but we paid a visit to Pier 39 as well! I am the official vacation planner each year, and I do my best to come up with new things to do when possible. Fortunately San Francisco is never boring, there is always something worth experiencing! I love the Bay Area, it's my Heaven on earth! 

Now, it's on to next year but first let's look at yesterday!

November 5th, 2014 Part One

Ripley's Believe It Or Not!

I saved my absolute favorite display for last, a wedding dress made entirely of toilet paper!

:)

Tomorrow... Part Two!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Things I See...

"You say freak, I say unique"

~Christine Baloga

One of the best parts about being an avid shutterbug is that I see things in the world that I might have missed otherwise. Take this lady for example. I found her quite by accident one day, while at a stop light on Ashby avenue, here in Berkeley. I must have driven past her a thousand or so times without even noticing her, then one day, while waiting in a traffic jam, there she was! Suddenly the traffic I had been cursing, turned into a fun and intriguing circumstance. Life has a way of doing that!

Question: What do you think she's pointing at?

:)

Leaf Of The Day

 

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Make Me Laugh...

"Never put off till tomorrow, what may be done day after tomorrow just as well."

~Mark Twain

More Maxims of Mark

Alan and I have a tradition, no matter what else we do on our vacation, the Sunday before it ends we go to a comedy club in San Francisco. In recent years it has been the Punch Line, just off the Embarcadero, in the financial district. The club sits on the second floor of 444 Battery st, and has a gorgeous view of all the tall San Francisco buildings. Sunday night the downtown was still decorated with bright orange lights in honor of the San Francisco Giants World Series win! It put an especially festive feel on the night, I love that orange color in October!

 The Sunday show at the Punch Line is their Comedy Showcase, which features the best up and coming comedians from the Bay Area, but mostly San Francisco. I have always enjoyed this show, and this time was no exception. It's a perfect way to say goodbye to a long vacation like we take, and the humor is much needed, especially with today being all about the mid-term elections. 

Elections rarely carry humor with them, with the recent exception of Karl Rove's desperate response to President Obama winning reelection in 2012! That was pretty funny! Anyway, if you live in the area, and are looking for some good fun, visit the Punch Line for their Comedy Showcase! It's good for what ails you! There is a two drink minimum, of course, and if you are feeling a bit peckish, try the Mediterranean Plate, it's awesome! YUM!

"We'll Miss You Robin"

Sigh...

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Elections Belong To The People...

"The Ballot Is Stronger Than The Bullet"

~Abraham Lincoln

Tomorrow is election day... GO VOTE!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

With Two Days To Go...

"George Washington was the only president who didn't blame

 the previous administration for his troubles."

~George Washington

As my vacation comes to an end, it's time to give attention the thing that is nearest to my heart and interests... politics. Specifically... the midterm elections! All the analysts say that things are looking mighty dismal for the left, I don't know if that's accurate, but I think I am holding out hope, and maybe some faith, that folks will turn out on Tuesday and vote to protect their interests. We have seen what has congress has done, and hasn't done, in the hands of the republican leadership, and republican obstructionism, and it we don't want to face that on a grand scale, 

we need to keep the senate in the hands of the democratic party.

On the other hand, the democratic party has had opportunity, after opportunity, to get the word out on the accomplishments we have realized by President Obama, and regional victories on local levels. Take California for example... the state turned deep blue and is thriving because of it. A lot of damage committed by Arnold Schwarzenegger has been rectified, and as a whole we are doing amazing again as a state. I am thankful for that. The personal devastation Alan and I experienced was nothing compared to the devastation felt by families all around us, and I know it might takes some longer to regain their footing, but at least we are on our way!

I wish the nation could begin to go forward the way California has! It doesn't mean that every democratic candidate running for office should win... but rationality would be good. Lies aren't useful. Bashing your opponent rather than stating your own record doesn't help either! Feeding into fears, be it on the subject of national security or on the Ebola virus, is a desperate strategy. Give me accurate information, and the credit to understand it! Instead, we tend to get one side or the other, with no moderation from either side. That means its up to me, and you, to figure it all out. It takes a moment, well actually, let's say it takes a whole day, but no matter how much time it takes in actuality, educating yourself, and then showing up to vote, means you can at least know,

 you let your own voice be heard!

GO VOTE!

GO VOTE!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)