There and Back Again

Arrived in SF last Thursday. Thank goodness for fathers, especially mine, who flew out to Chicago, helped us load the Budget truck, and then drove halfway across the country with us, providing much-needed relief on the 2300-mile trip. We stopped in Mt. Vernon, Iowa for a nice dinner with Mary (Patrick's mom) and John; Denver, where we stayed with Jeff (Patrick's cousin) and Kathleen after almost 16 hours on the road; Zion National Park, where we spent a day and a half with Auntie Diane and Uncle Garth; and Bakersfield, where we admired Dad's negotiating skills at the Best Western.

Some of the advantages so far, starting with the obvious but unavoidable: the weather has been GREAT. Went to little cousin's birthday party and enjoyed the sun on the patio--not to mention knowing that I'll get to see everyone again before Christmas--and had an exhausting but wonderful bike ride this morning in the South Bay (I've missed you, hills!). I love living in the Sunset and being so close to the park, the beach, locally grown produce (even if it is more expensive), more Chinese people, so much good food ... places where people are always walking ...

Disadvantages: I saw an old lady pull down her pants and poop on the sidewalk!!!

Photos to follow. Of the trip, not the pooping. (Ewww!)