October's Trip Installment 1
I've been to California four times in the last year. I like California. I don't like the way people drive in Cali's "big cities," but 'tis the state of my nativity and a sunnier place than Oregon.
Last Thursday (10/16), Matt drove down to my place where we had a good time eating garden burgers and listening to Coast to Coast AM (there are some somewhat wacky people exhibited on this show -- I would highly recommend it). I was on call but not called that evening, which made for appropriate levels of sleep in preparation for the trip the following day.
We set off Friday morning. I stopped in at my clinic to tie off some loose ends, then continued south to Canyonville where I went to the casino (Seven Feathers).
That's right, to the casino. Please, no panicking readers. In reality, the casino makes me ill. A bunch of mature adults grubbing for money and wasting money in the process. It so happens that I had for the place a $75 gift certificate which needed cashing. Not desiring to eat there or spend the night there (!!), I spent the certificate at the gift gallery. Now, is it hypocritical to even do that? My thought is I'd be supporting the casino more by not cashing in on the gift certificate... I don't think the casino people like having me there. They tend to glare at me as if they think I'm there to condemn the establishment (which I do) or to plant a bomb (which I do not do). Gift certificate produced: pancake mix for grandparents, hacky sacks (x2), socks for mom/me/my young cousin, Oregon hiking book, etc.
We blasted through northern California -- not so much with regard to speed as with regard to not stopping much. We did no hiking that day.
We saw my paternal grandmother Friday night/Saturday morning. She appreciated this, but it is always stressful for her when we visit because she wants to do stuff for and give stuff to us and she does not have it in her power to do so. It is testimony to her giving personality, which in the past produced two rather spoiled grandchildren (tennis lessons, horse back riding lessons, toys, crafts stuff, Marriott's Great America, etc.).
Friday night was amusing, in hindsight.
Matt got some hotel phone numbers from Mom, who got them off Google. He made a reservation at a Days Inn, presumably in Novato, CA. We had some difficulty finding the place -- could not find the required exit. We drove past a Days Inn, and then went to it -- it had the address listed online. Lo, they had not a reservation for us. Hmmm.... turns out the Novato Days Inn is listed on Google with the phone number of a Days Inn near Cupertino, at which place Matt had made the reservation. Reservation canceled, reservation made, and we were set. There was a wedding party going on in the hotel lounge, bashing, crashing music and all. Be thankful for curfews and thick walls! There were six (!) pillows on the bed, so I stole 4 of them to accompany me on the floor while the brother made use of the bed.
On Saturday... see installment 2, coming soon.
Last Thursday (10/16), Matt drove down to my place where we had a good time eating garden burgers and listening to Coast to Coast AM (there are some somewhat wacky people exhibited on this show -- I would highly recommend it). I was on call but not called that evening, which made for appropriate levels of sleep in preparation for the trip the following day.
We set off Friday morning. I stopped in at my clinic to tie off some loose ends, then continued south to Canyonville where I went to the casino (Seven Feathers).
That's right, to the casino. Please, no panicking readers. In reality, the casino makes me ill. A bunch of mature adults grubbing for money and wasting money in the process. It so happens that I had for the place a $75 gift certificate which needed cashing. Not desiring to eat there or spend the night there (!!), I spent the certificate at the gift gallery. Now, is it hypocritical to even do that? My thought is I'd be supporting the casino more by not cashing in on the gift certificate... I don't think the casino people like having me there. They tend to glare at me as if they think I'm there to condemn the establishment (which I do) or to plant a bomb (which I do not do). Gift certificate produced: pancake mix for grandparents, hacky sacks (x2), socks for mom/me/my young cousin, Oregon hiking book, etc.
We blasted through northern California -- not so much with regard to speed as with regard to not stopping much. We did no hiking that day.
We saw my paternal grandmother Friday night/Saturday morning. She appreciated this, but it is always stressful for her when we visit because she wants to do stuff for and give stuff to us and she does not have it in her power to do so. It is testimony to her giving personality, which in the past produced two rather spoiled grandchildren (tennis lessons, horse back riding lessons, toys, crafts stuff, Marriott's Great America, etc.).
Friday night was amusing, in hindsight.
Matt got some hotel phone numbers from Mom, who got them off Google. He made a reservation at a Days Inn, presumably in Novato, CA. We had some difficulty finding the place -- could not find the required exit. We drove past a Days Inn, and then went to it -- it had the address listed online. Lo, they had not a reservation for us. Hmmm.... turns out the Novato Days Inn is listed on Google with the phone number of a Days Inn near Cupertino, at which place Matt had made the reservation. Reservation canceled, reservation made, and we were set. There was a wedding party going on in the hotel lounge, bashing, crashing music and all. Be thankful for curfews and thick walls! There were six (!) pillows on the bed, so I stole 4 of them to accompany me on the floor while the brother made use of the bed.
On Saturday... see installment 2, coming soon.
posted by Claire at 18:22
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