Good Intentions=Inconvenience

Today I went shopping at Target. I bought an entire shopping cart full of canned goods, heavy jars of spaghetti sauce, boxes of cereal, and about 50 really tiny travel items for our trip to Yosemite. When I got to the check out counter I realized that there were no more plastic bags for the customer's convenience. This is because the city of Sunnyvale has banned plastic bags.

Apparently plastic bags are inconvenient for the environment. So now a million Target customers are going to buy 2 reusable bags a piece so Target will make $2 million dollars from reusable bag sales. And the tiny bit of cheap, reusable, recyclable plastic that was so convenient for me will no longer harm the streets of Sunnyvale.

No, even though plastic is used in almost every object that we use daily: cars, hair brushes, toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, toothpaste, appliances, mattresses, cell phones, razors, eyeglasses, light switches, bathtubs, buttons, toilet seats, contacts, refrigerators, cooking tools, trash cans, computers, ice cube trays, food packaging, furniture, milk cartons, TVs, remote controls, video games, fans, sun glasses, purses, pens, etc., the threat to the environment from plastic in Sunnyvale is over!

So, since I refused to be charged money to use bags made of cloth and trees, which require plastic parts and materials to be produced,  and I have left my many reusable bags at home, I will be inconvenienced.

I packed every single item I bought into my cart and then loaded each item into my car. The cans and jars rolled and clanged in my trunk as I turned corners and stopped at stoplights.

Thanks Sunnyvale. I will shop in Mountain View from now on, until they too ban plastic bags. Then I will drive in my car made with plastic, shop in the store built with plastic materials with my cart made with plastic materials, and will place my plastic jar of sphaghetti sauce and my plastic wrapped loaf of bread into whatever plastic bag I can scavenge. I plan on saving them from other stores and stockpiling them to use later when the city decides that convenience stores no longer have the choice to offer their customers convenience.

New Apartment

More space! Eric and I moved into a two bedroom apartment Easter weekend and we are loving it! Not only do we have room division for all our office stuff, but we also have a large fenced in patio with a little yard that Mia has claimed. There is no one above or below us so it is very quiet and we don't have to worry about making too much noise. I didn't get the extra bathroom or the washer and dryer--in fact, our bathroom is smaller and the laundry room farther away--but the ground floor, huge patio, and skylight really make up for it.

Last minute moving was a big pain, but we had the help of our friends Lindsey and Jason and Michelle and Mark. We could not have accomplished the move in time without them. Thanks guys! We thought we had at least two weeks to move but the leasing office told us upon signing the papers that we only had a couple of days. Unfortunately this forced us to move on Easter Sunday. It was stressful but well worth the price. The apartment was vacant so we got a real deal on the rent if we moved asap. It's in the same apartment complex that we've lived in since we moved out to Cali-- we just did an onsite transfer.

We were also very thankful for all the trunk space in our Hyundai Elantra Touring. We got a UHaul for the big stuff (thankfully UHaul was open on Easter Sunday), but a lot of boxes and crates got taken to the new place by back and forth trips in our car. Thanks mom and dad Barndollar!

We have made a lot of progress in setting up our new place. We've got a few new pieces of furniture in the living room and bathroom. All of the pictures are up except one painting that we don't know where to put yet. The bedroom and living room are larger. It's more comfortable and spread out; I feel like I can stretch out and make bigger messes. In fact I already used my new open space to host some meetups. In June I hosted a Lia Sophia jewelry party and a NOBLY shopping party. I could never have hosted them in my little one bedroom apartment.

Mia loves her outside. We never had much sun hit our old apartment, but we get full sun now. She immediately picked up the habit of sunbathing; whether she is lying on the carpet in front of the sliding glass door, or sprawling out in her little patch of dirt, she is always soaking up sun.

Also soaking up the sun are my vegetable plants in my patio box garden. I've been growing organic roma tomatoes and zucchini, along with a green pepper plant, strawberry plant, and a collection of herbs including basil, oregano, cilantro, mint, and parsley. It's my first real attempt at gardening and I love watching their progress. They started out as tiny little seedlings and are now flourishing. My tomato and zucchini plants are ginormous! I have a billion little green tomatoes and I have harvested my  4th zucchini. So far I've made zucchini pancakes and roasted zucchini.

In other news, we have had a steady flow of visitors all year long. We recently said goodbye to my mom and grandma who came to stay with us for a week. It was their first time in Mountain View/San Francisco and they really enjoyed it. I'm glad the weather was very mild, because when it's hot our apartment is like an oven. I miss them already :-/

We are currently hosting Eric's parents, sister, and cousin. We will be going to Yosemite on Wednesday along with Uncle Tom. We still need to do laundry, grocery shopping, and pack.

The summer is packed! My birthday is coming up July 6th and I am excited to celebrate this year. Our 2nd anniversary is on July 17th. I am having gum grafting surgery at the end of July, which I am not at all looking forward to, but I am prepared with all the necessary pain prescriptions. Maybe I will get more blogging done at the end of July. I will also be planning a trip to Pittsburgh before the summer is over-probably at the end of August beginning of September. It's wedding planning time for Miss Alicia!

It all seems much more doable in our new place. I have my own desk space now in the section of office not taken over by Eric's stuff. Will I get more writing done now? We will see!

Accident

Yesterday I got into a minor accident while en route to picking up one of my kids. My car was hit from behind while the child's sibling and I were stopped in traffic. We were talking about the price of McLaren's when we got the jolt from behind. Thankfully, the girl who hit us quickly followed my car to a side road and was very apologetic.

As I went to inspect the damage, which of course my brain imagines to be severe, I was relieved to see hardly any--just a license plate frame impression on the back bumper; another dent to add to the collection on my poor car. It felt worse than it was. The impact was enough to open the sun roof door of my car, but not enough to bother us in any way. We were perfectly fine physically, just a little shaky.

The girl was outwardly worried because it was her fault and she had never been in an accident before. I was inwardly worried about the child in my back seat. That's something I have never experienced before and hope I never have to go through again. It's a huge responsibility, especially when it's someone else's child. The possibility of a car accident has always worried me since I started driving other people's children around for my job. I hoped it would never happen. Now I will never drive that same route again without getting a bit anxious.

But there was nothing I could have done. I have to keep telling myself that. Accident's happen and they are nothing but accidents. You can't change them or prevent them. You can't think, If I would have done this, or If only I had gone the other way--who's to predict what could have happened in the other direction?

Happily, the process of exchanging information went smoothly, and the child in the backseat of my car was very cool, calm, and logical about the situation. I will still worry, of course, but I can be relieved that it wasn't a traumatizing experience and that no real harm was done.

Half Moon Bay April 27, 2012

Eric and me in front of the Ritz Carlton.

On Friday evening, Eric and I had a much needed romantic getaway at Half Moon Bay, CA. Thanks to our friend Emily who was able to watch Mia, it was just the two of us and a lovely night at the Ritz Carlton. Eric was at the hotel early for a picnic and hike--he hiked 8 miles through mud, redwood trees, and banana slugs!

I drove up to meet him and got there around 7pm. I guess at the Ritz you aren't allowed to do anything yourself, which I didn't quite understand at first but it has been a learning experience! A valet opened the car door for me, another one parked my car for me, and a third guy took my bags and directed me to the front desk. It seemed silly to have someone take my small bags that were packed for a night's stay. I was followed by a bellman pushing my tiny bags on a large luggage cart. He navigated me through the hotel up to my room and knocked on the door where Eric was waiting for me. Niether of us were prepared to give out tips so our smallest bill was $5. Lucky bellman!

Our room was exquisite! It was small but very elegant and had a large bay window with an unbelievable view of the ocean. It was so relaxing to open the window and hear the soothing sounds of the waves rolling back and forth. The bathroom was only comparable to the one in our room at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, and it was complete with separate shower and large soaking tub, bathrobes, slippers, large ceramic sink, and even individually wrapped cotton balls--Eric was impressed.

Since it was dinner time we didn't have much time to explore. We learned that to get your car you need to call ahead of time so that it is ready when you get to the lobby.

We drove into the small town and did some Italian restaurant hopping on Main Street, starting out with a reservation at Pasta Moon and ending with an impromptu stop at It's Italia.

Pasta Moon is a restaurant we have passed by on Pumpkin Festival trips, and one that I have always wanted to try. I was very excited to have a romantic, candlelight dinner here, but it did not meet my expectations. Upon arrival we were greeted by no one, so we stood around awkwardly for a couple of minutes trying to decide if we should seat ourselves or not. Eventually our hostess came and directed us to the only open table for two in a small room off to the left. It was the second of two tables placed in a tiny cubicle that were so close together we might as well have shared one table. They should never have tried to sit two separate couples here. There was no room for conversation. We could tell that the couple already seated next to us was put off from speaking and we weren't comfortable about speaking to each other until they left. This kind of seating only works in a place like the Cheesecake Factory where the noise level is so loud it drowns out the conversation of the other couples you are crammed in with. Thankfully, the hostess did not seat anyone else there after they left. There were plenty of tables in other rooms of the restaurant so why they chose to cram us into a corner I have no idea.

We did get a nice picture at our little table!

I ordered the butternut squash ravioli, ready to gorge myself on delicious fresh-made pasta. It was absolutely delicious, but I was a bit disappointed by the portion size. I definitely could have eaten all of the larger portion, but the waiter recommended the smaller one for me. Never having eaten here before I took his word for it. I expected them to be large raviolis but they were bite size. It felt more like a small appetizer than an entree. Eric's large portion of his pasta dish--a linguini bolognese--seemed very small for him as well. Perhaps we were suposed to order in courses? Eric's request for parmesan cheese on top of his pasta had to be repeated. My pear martini was very delicious and fruity, but not very strong. They did serve bread, but after eating that and our pasta dishes we were still hungry. Rather than order another expensive entree that might not be fulfilling, we decided to try a different place.

Love Letter--made with
raspberries and rose petals.

On the next block we found the restaurant, It's Italia! They greeted us as we entered the restaurant and were able to seat us if we waited a couple of minutes. We got a nice four person table all to ourselves and it felt very free, open, and comfortable. We were able to relax more here. It might not have been as fancy or sophisticated but the food was just as great and was served in larger portions for about the same price. The service was impressive by comparison. Eric ordered the tomato basil bruschetta and I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. All that and another basket of bread definitely hit the spot! I also had a drink called Love Letter, made with raspberries and rose petals. It was extremely strong and I am not used to drinking that much hard alcohol--I am usually a wine or beer person. But it did feel great to get our money's worth at this place! I think we will come here again.

When we got back to the hotel we put on our swimsuits with the intention of relaxing by the pool. We found out at the front desk that it had closed at 8pm, so we decided to take a nighttime stroll instead. The moon and a large light shinning from the roof of the hotel lit up the ocean beautifully for a late night walk. We walked down to the pool area to see where it was and found a pond on the golf course with an insane amount of noisy frogs. We also caught a raccoon sneaking into the gazebo. Closer to the hotel were some lit fire pits surrounded by big, comfy patio chairs and blankets for our convenience--it was a cool night. We enjoyed the ocean air and the fire pits for awhile.

We made ourselves get up early the next morning since check out was at noon and we wanted time to take advantage of the amenities. We had a big (and expensive) breakfast at the hotel restaurant. That's the cost of a booth with an ocean view!














We learned the night before that the use of the spa facilities was open to us and included in our resort fee. So, after having our fill of eggs, sausage, potatoes and cappuccino, we went downstairs to the spa. We went into separate locker rooms and found in our lockers complimentary robes, sandals, and towels. The woman's side had a lounge with a fireplace, complimentary tea, bottled water, and fruit, private showers with soap, shampoo, conditioner, and shaving cream, a private/clothing optional hot tub, steam sauna, and dry sauna. Eric and I met up at the coed hot tub which was completely vacant besides us, so it was like our own private jacuzzi room. There were candles lit, a burning fireplace, two tsunami showers, comfy chairs, and, again, complimentary fruit and water. It was amazing! We were very pampered and spoiled by check out time, and we loved our one night stay at the Ritz Carlton!

The view from our window.

Golf balls in the gutter, which is very close to our window!

After we left, we drove down the highway to find access to the coast. We stopped at a place called Cowell Ranch to hike down to the beach. It was a short hike, though very pretty and scenic. We saw lots of wildlife, including many different species of birds and even a little snake. The lookout to the ocean was breathtaking, and the sand below was very inviting. I hope we can return to Half Moon Bay very soon! It would be a perfect place to have a little day trip. Mia would definitely love it, and there is still so much more to explore!

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me..."

See the snake?

My Dad on the Radio

Listen to my dad, LTC Stokes (right) on Essential Public Radio, speaking about mental health treatment and availability for Veterans. Veterans returning to their civilian lives often find it hard to cope. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to that actually understands what they experienced. That's what my dad is trying to spread awareness about. You can listen by following this link:

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-04-16/veterans-coming-home-isnt-always-easy-10542

Road Trip to LA and Disneyland

Me and Eric in front of the Best Western.

Our friends Lindsey and Jason invited us to spend President's Day weekend in Southern California. Lindsey had free tickets to Disneyland and we have always wanted to visit LA, so we decided to take a road trip and visit both places. After a six hour car ride through farmland and orchards, past coyotes and tumbleweeds, we were excited to drive through beautiful mountains into the civilization of Los Angeles! 

Lindsey and Eric in front of the Best Western.

In LA we stayed at the Best Western on Sunset Boulevard. It was a cute hotel built on the side of a hill with a helpful concierge, welcoming pool, and free breakfast. Our decision to stay there was based mostly on location. It was within walking distance of a great selection of restaurants, including one we were very excited about called Saddle Ranch. Our first step in the LA tour was to get lunch, so we headed across the street to this western saloon inspired restaurant and sports bar. It had a mechanical bull, huge burgers, and gigantic desserts, including a three foot high tower of cotton candy. We didn't ride the bull but were fully entertained by those who did!

The Bull.

Lindsey and Jason.

Me and Eric.

Bacon and onion burger.

Lindsey enjoys her bleu cheese burger.

After eating at Saddle Ranch, we took a bus to get to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I sat next to man's plant, which had its own seat. He proceeded to talk to me about his plant. This was a very interesting introductions to the people of LA! We walked a little farther to reach the sights worth seeing on Hollywood Blvd. We walked the entire length of the Hollywood Walk of Fame to find the stars of all of our favorite celebrities.

Me and Eric.

Lindsey and Jason.

Me and Lindsey with Johnny Depp.

Jason pretends to be Chuck Norris.

 After walking the entire Star Walk, we  went past the Chinese Theater and saw the hand/foot prints of the really famous people like the actors from Harry Potter, Twilight, and Star Wars. Since it was a week away from the Academy Awards, there were stands being set up on the sidewalks. We stopped for a picture on the stairs of the Kodak Theater and walked through some fancy shops like Louis Vuitton.

Harry Potter cast. 

Twilight cast.

Me with Judy Garland.

Jason takes a bite out of Louis Vuitton.

Going to get our Oscars!

Set up for the Oscars.

We walked back to our hotel to get our car, then headed out to Rodeo Drive to see the shops! Fortunately for Eric, all of the shops were closed so I couldn't buy anything fancy. But we got to see them from the outside and pretend like we were celebrities checking out the new spring trends.

Lindsey and me at Tiffany's

Lindsey and Jason

Me and Eric

Dream shoe made at Jimmy Choo's

Lindsey at Rodeo Drive

Me at Rodeo Drive

Jelly shoes!

We drove back to the hotel ready to crash, but I convinced everyone to go out to dinner and we decided to go back to the Saddle Ranch to try their S'mores. We had a couple of appetizers, and then roasted our marshmallows at the fire pit. We could choose from toppings of carmel and chocolate sauce--as if chocolate and marshmallows wasn't enough sugar.

Lindsey roasting marshmallows at Saddle Ranch

The perfect s'more.

Jason roasting marshmallows.

Eric eating a s'more.

We got a good night's sleep to be prepared for our full day in Disneyland! But first, we went to check out the Hollywood sign.

Gone With The Wind inspired

Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler

Me in front of the Hollywood sign.

Lindsey and Jason

Me and Eric

That concludes our LA visit. Look for part 2 of the blog entry featuring Disneyland!

Thanks to Kayla for helping me write it and for adding all the captions!