Baseball & Politics

There are two things on my mind today that I could live without, two things I simply don't enjoy: Baseball and Politics.

Don't get me wrong, I believe politics are a necessary evil and I participate in our political process, but it doesn't necessarily follow that I enjoy it.

Baseball, on the other hand... I'd rather do ANYTHING, including clean my house. Including unpack suitcases (and I hate unpacking suitcases!). Including go to a craft store!! I'd rather do anything than watch baseball... or football, (American Football), but that's another story.

So, imagine my glee, during this election season, when the local team, The SF Giants, won the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Facebook, Twitter, the workplace, traffic... all of it is clogged with the fallout from these two issues.

Photo by Mannie Rabbara

Today is not only Halloween, but the Giants' victory parade in downtown SF. By 7AM all of the commuter trains were PACKED with rabid baseball fans heading into the city for the noon-o'-clock parade.



It's a bad day to be a commuter here in the Bay Area. And an even worse day to not like baseball, or politics. I think I shall lock myself in my office for the day.

San Francisco: Dinosaur Hunt

Have you ever played Hide n' Seek... with Dinosaurs?
The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park recently featured an exhibit that allowed everyone to do just that... so I took my sis and her kiddos and we went on a Dinosaur hunt in the city!

Can you spot the Dinosaur?

How about now?

 Master Q is looking for the Dinosaurs

 Are they over here?

 Where ARE they?

 How about in here?

 RAWR!!!

 Master Q might be having second thoughts about finding those Dinosaurs...

Time to go...

Top Five: Most Restful Places

I've been to a fair amount of places and seen a fair amount of things. Over the years I've collected a few favorites. 

Here are my top five restful places, places that feel relaxing, and restorative:

1. Crane Beach, Barbados

With its pink coral-sand beaches and happy situation in the ocean (half of the island is windward and half is leeward, meaning half of the island has beaches with waves and half is mostly calm), Barbados is one of my favorite islands. On it's windward side, a special beach has captured my heart. There's just something so peaceful, so serene, so away from everything. Indeed, Crane beach feels as though it's perched on the very edge of the world.

Atop the rugged cliffs at The Crane sits The Crane Resort, a beautiful, old hotel (which recently has undergone major expansions and renovations, which are gorgeous!), which I cannot recommend highly enough!

2. Sundance Resort

There are a few things I like about Utah. Moab. Zion National Park. Hiking. Cafe Rio. And Sundance. If you need a relaxing state-side summer getaway, check out Sundance. Hiking trails in abundance, yummy eats, a beautifully manicured grassy knolls beneath tall pines and a great spa all make this place a great place to tune-out. If you like to Ski, go in the winter. Sundance's ski mountain isn't very large and it's fairly low in elevation, but several other world-class ski resorts are just a half-hour's drive further up the mountain. Check out my faves, Park City, Deer Valley and Brighton.

3. The Decks of any Cruise Ship

Anchored off the coast of Maui aboard Island Princess

Forward, Aft, port or starboard, there is nothing like being at sea on a warm day, surrounding by nothing but the big blue and a light breeze. A deck chair and a book are all you'll need to, as Princess Cruises says, Escape Completely...

4. Sawa Beach Camp, Red Sea, Egypt

Basic as basic comes, Sawa Beach camp is located on the Egyptian portion of the Red Sea and it is divine! Small huts built on cement slabs with palm roofs, each hut has a mosquito-enclosed mattress and a porch with a hammock. Communal bathrooms offer solar-heated water. A large common area for gathering and a restaurant. This piece of sea-front property will knock your socks off. Tip: Have the restaurant set up dinner for you on the beach. Perfection!

5. The Farm. 

This is last on my list only because, well, it's my family's and unless you're a relative or good friend, you probably won't ever visit my Gram's farm.

Exploring San Francisco: Conservatory of Flowers

A day out in the city took me to Golden Gate Park, a massive, sprawling expanse in the city. It's more like Central Park in NYC than your typical neighborhood park. There are museums, running paths, kid playgrounds and gardens. There's also a lovely victorian-style Greenhouse in the park called The Conservatory of Flowers. I've wanted to visit it for quite some time and finally made the time. It was well worth the trip!

From Wikipedia:
The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden that houses a collection of rare and exotic plants in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. With construction completed in 1878, it remains the oldest building in the park, and the oldest municipal wooden conservatory remaining in the United States. It is also one of the first municipal conservatories constructed in the country. For these distinctions and for its associated historical, architectural, and engineering merits, the Conservatory of Flowers is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Places, is a California Historical Landmark, and a San Francisco Designated Landmark.

  A gorgeous green lawn and flowerbed against a gray, gloomy morning.

 Orchids are my favorite flower

Proof that if you don't like the weather in San Francisco, you only have to wait an hour...

What to bring: Camera, water, lunch (Golden Gate Park is a very large place with very few places to eat)

Cost: $7 General Admission. $5 Students and Seniors. Children under 5 free.

This Just Happened :: Golden Gate Park

Saturday took me and my little sis to San Francisco to explore Golden Gate park. We took my rambunctious toddler NephewQ AND the TwoBabies. Yah, it was an exhausting, fun whirlwind of a day.

This was the first thing to happen while walking through the park:

60's hippie bus tour meets Snow White. Seriously. The two crossed paths... It was practically destiny.

It pretty much had me in stitches the rest of the day.

Hippies: "Hey guys, that tour was soooooo good. Like, I swear I see Snow White over there..."
Snow: "Where's my prince when I need him?"

How would you Caption that photo?

29 Days

Isn't that a movie? Starring Sandra Bullock?

Well this post has nothing to do with rehab. Though I'd love if it Viggo Mortenson made an appearance.

Sigh... A girl can daydream.

And if this was a daydream, I'd swap Viggo for Daniel Craig, who would be single and LDS.

I tell ya, what a daydream!

;)

(Aren't you just SO excited for the new Bond film next month?) (Remember that time I saw Daniel Craig in the Heathrow Airport. I'll never forget it.)

Okay, okay.

29 days until Israel, folks! I am just amazingly excited. I know this last month will both fly by and drag it's feet. The last weeks before a big trip always do.

Otherwise, life is calm (a bit boring, even?), the sister's babies and toddler are all doing well.

The babies were blessed in church a couple of Sundays ago and my parents came down from North Idaho for a visit.

And now I'm just-a-countin' down the days until I get to dust off my travel legs and fly on outta this little 'ol country I call home. (Yay!)

What are you up to lately?

Greek Isles: Santorini Sampler

There is so much more to the island of Santorini than just the magnificent views from the famous clifftop city of Oia (pronouced Eee-Ah).

Sure, Oia is kind of a big deal with it's amazing whitewashed houses and blue-roofed domed churches. It's got amazing restaurants with equally amazing views and beautiful stores full of trinkets and souvenirs from places far and wide. And yes, Oia is the place you can take a donkey ride from the base of the island at the Caldera (the Volcanic ocean crater in the center of the horseshoe-shaped island) to the top of the cliffs and the city.

But, if you like to explore, as I do, the first thing you'll do is ask a local what there is to do on the island.

I asked a few locals, and the recommendations varied:

-Thira island (Santorini) is home to some of the oldest wineries on the planet. The vines on Santorini are grown in a circular shape, on the ground, in order to withstand the wind. There is no problem with disesase on the island, so some of the vines that produce have been around for a very, very long time. (Though I'm not a wine drinker, I find the wine world fascinating, hailing from Napa, California.) (And, I'd be remiss if I didn't report that those who took wine tours on Santorini weren't very impressed...)

-Santorini has been "destroyed' by the active volcano in the center of the Caldera a few times. You can take boat tours to the center island from Thira and hike around the desolate volcano. On your boat ride, the captain will point out a few places you can snorkel or scuba and see bubbles released by the volcano in the water.

-The island is home to golden, red and black sand beaches.

-There are ruins of ancient Greek civilizations to visit.

-There are fantastic hikes all over the island.

-Quad bikes are street legal and readily available to rent all over the island (FUN!) These quads are a great alternative to the less-stable mopeds for Americans, who aren't allowed to rent mopeds or motorcycles in the EU without an EU driving license.

 A Church dome overlooking the Caldera

 One of many, many sellers of artwork in Oia

 The tablecloth... doubles as an island map.

 Black sand beach in Perissa.

 Church on the hill, fun day-hike in Perissa

 Oia from the opposite side of the island.

 Red sand, volcanic beach. The cliffs are composed of red volcanic matter, rich in Pumice stone.

Faraway Fantasy Friday: Galilee

In about a month I'll be traveling to the Holy Land. Today I'm thinking of a road trip from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee. I've heard from other travelers that Galilee is an amazingly peaceful, relaxing place.

Image from: http://holylandpilgrimage.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/loaves-and-fishes-and-more-food-for-thought/

Biblically, Galilee is where Jesus walked on water.

Where do you want to be today?

The Departure Lounge: The Guilt Factor

Lately I've been a nervous wreck. Losing sleep. Addled brain. Distracted. 

I'm feeling guilty. 

Guilty about leaving my amazing sister and her adorable, growing family. Guilty about even thinking about spending the amount of money I know this move abroad will cost. Guilty about leaving an amazing job when so many are out of work. Guilty about doing something so inherently selfish, and finally, Guilty that perhaps this path might not be in line with the principles and religious values that I've been taught, and hold dear, ie: Marriage, family, etc.

The guilt makes me question - is this really the right path for me? Can I really do this? Should I do this?

In my pondering/sorting out my emotions and priorities process,I had a couple of great conversations, one with my sister and one with Mary of My Life in Scotland. These girls really help me sort out my head when it's swimming and I adore them. Sister reminded me about all of my reasons for going, more than that, she reminded me that this is who I am, I'm a traveler, an explorer and doing this will enable some of my long-term goals. Mary made a great point, she said that some of the happiest, most successful people have all given up something or taken a big risk at one point to get to where they are now. 

On the religion/marriage/family thing: I'm Mormon. I was raised Mormon. After much soul searching, comparison and exploration, I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not only the religion for me, I know it's true. Most people think of people with huge families when they think of Mormons. That's because we value the family. The idea that we should "Marry and replentish the earth" is kind of drilled into our heads from birth. So I went through childhood assuming I would get married and have a bunch of kids by the time I was in my mid to late twenties. My twenties happened, and so did working on Cruise Ships, attending University (or four) and accepting a Corporate job. And now I'm in my thirties. And the marriage and family thing still hasn't happened. There simply hasn't been a viable option for me, for that kind of path. And in a religion that believes in ETERNAL Marriage, and being of the opinion that divorce doesn't solve problems, it only breaks people, I really, really have no intention of marrying just to get married.

So I'm Mormon. I'm single. I'm thirty-two. And when push comes to shove, there's nothing wrong with that. It would be wrong for me to live a cloistered, depressed life thinking of what I don't have, rather than living a life full of what I can do. 

In thinking through the guilt and the emotional nagging, really, the question becomes, can I not do this? 
Could I live with myself if I didn't? 
Would I be satisfied spending the money on purchasing a home rather than the opportunity of a lifetime?

It's scary doing big things. But we can't let fear paralyze us, or hold us back.

Now I realize that these feelings of guilt and self-doubt are nothing more than the adversary trying to tear me down and prevent me doing what I need to do, and going in the direction I know I need to go in.

A leader in my church said this, and it's really spoken peace and relief to my soul: ‎"Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

To be honest, I'd be worried about myself and my motives if I weren't going through this guilt trip, it's a natural part of the emotional/mental preparation process, I guess.

Photo from here

--

Mary, of My Life in Scotland is all too familiar with the guilt factor. An American Expat living in Scotland, she's had her fill of ups and downs, she said:. "When choosing a path to live your life that is different from everyone you know there is going to be some guilt. Whether others make you feel it or you're worried about leaving friends and family it will probably be there even if just a little bit." 

To read more about Mary's experiences with travel, guilt, living in Scotland, etc, check out her blog, My Life in Scotland.

Questions about preparing for ex-patriotism? Leave a comment for Christy!

Northern California: Muir Beach

There are loads of beaches to visit in California, but if you happen to be in the Northerly part of the state, and you happen to be touring Muir Woods, you should definitely drive the extra ten minutes and visit Muir Beach.
This tiny beach is one of my favorites, cozy and intimate, extremely relaxed. Part of the landscape leading up to the beach is actually a habitat to help facilitate a species of endangered Salmon.

Be sure to visit on a cloudy, overcast, cool day (most days along NorCal's coastline) and pack a picnic, bonfire makings, blankets and a volleyball. Then just sit back and enjoy the sand and the chilly surf. Don't forget to wear sunscreen. Those overcast days will do some real damage if you're not paying attention.

If you don't have a dog to play catch with, don't sweat it, this one cozied right up to me. He was content to stick with me for as long as I'd throw the ball for him.