traveling and other tidbits

Traveling:

Traveling with me (Nancy) is exhausting-I admit it. Even I get exhausted. Usually, however, we are all mostly grateful for my full itinerary when it is over and we realize how much we did. Dave already mentioned the zoo, beach and Legoland. We then went to the other part of the zoo called Wild Animal Park in Escondido. It was blazing hot. We realized we were in the desert that day! (over 100 degrees with beating down sun) It was really cool though-except we could barely see the Tigers-too hot for them!!!!!!!!! We managed to come home and go to the beach again. The cold water was totally refreshing that day.

On Saturday, we went to Balboa Park in San Diego city proper (Near the zoo). It was a beautiful park with museums and gardens. We went to the Science museum which was excellent except we are not impressed with IMAX shows and felt gipped. (esp since it was an environmental one on the endangered Colorado River and had a lot of spiritism in it) We enjoyed the model railroad museum where all these retired men got to play with trains all day-what a life! We saw most of the gardens, got really thirsty and left to go to Seaport Village where we had a nice meal on the water. (Karen and kids met us around 4:30pm) We shopped til we dropped in the Village, had Ben and Jerry's ice cream, then finally called it a day.

Sunday, I crashed. We went to Karen's church, came home and ate lunch, and then went to La Jolla beach to see the seals. They were lounging and swimming on the beach there with several babies-again, what a life! Dave and kids went to the beach and I took a nap. I went to the beach later, but it was foggy and cool and they called everyone in within a 1/2 hr. I proceeded to sleep all night too.

Monday, we went back to Legoland to finish off what we had missed (the best part was the use of the 24 million lego bricks to make all the figures, animals, and buildings in the park). In the center was miniland which is Lego's rendition of several cities including: NYC, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Paris, San Francisco, San Diego, New Orleans, etc. It was so clever. I can't believe man's creativity but then, God is an amazingly creative God. We then ate lunch at this fabulous Mexican restaurant (at least 4 sporks, Colby) and went to Mission Capistrano, a late 1800's mission started by the Catholics in CA (there are 21 of them). I couldn't help admire how they evangelized all the natives (indians) there at that time period. The Mission was both interesting and beautiful-having a church with huge gold altar area and beautiful gardens. We shopped and looked around the small town of Capistrano and then dropped by San Clement which was also beautiful.

We came home to chill, eat dinner (of which I had none being so stuffed from the Mexican) and packed. We left at an ungodly hour on Tuesday-God bless Karen for taking us to the airport and for being such an amazing hostess for the whole week) and flew out on time to Omaha, NE. As soon as we got there, they had thunder storms and flooding but we made it through (Dave really loves to go driving though pools of water so it wasn't so bad). We made it to mom and dad's around 7pm and began our visit with them.

Yesterday, Dave got the golf cart running and the kids drove around in that in between playing baseball. We did laundry and hung it on the line which I find soothing. (I also enjoy doing dishes while I am here-again soothing and no dishwasher). The girls found the momma and 4 little kittens and started a relationship with them. They are adorable but I am glad they are outside. Elizabeth started her allergies to them, and David II and I are also allergic to them so further reason for them to be where they are. So we are a little more chilled out here, but that is good.

School: I finished the group class on June 13th. I enjoyed it-got to see Julia's delightful parents and grandmother again and spend time with Annie. I am trying to get back into running and thanks to Annie, I got up to running 2.25 miles straight which considering I couldn't even do 1.5 miles before, that was great. Now I just have to do all the post work which I have completed one paper and 2 tests and just have one proposal group paper left which I hope to start today. I am quite unnerved about tests since I have started this Master's, they are stressful to me and I keep getting in the 80's on them which pulls my whole grade down. I think I need a class on test taking and studying for them. At least I can write.

Dreams: I was reading Beth Moore's book called Breaking Free on Isaiah and getting out from bondage of sin, when I came across her statement that all little girls have dreams of being 1. married (bride), 2. being fruitful which usually means having children, 3. being beautiful. I decided to ask my 2 daughters if this was true. (It certainly was true of me from the time I was 10 years old) Elizabeth: My dreams are to be a fashion designer and travel all over the world. When asked about getting married and having kids, she said she didn't have to and that is not her dream! Arianna: To have a nice house, to have kitties, puppies, to live with someone (when asked to clarify she said married), to have a job (when asked which one, she said she would like to try them all but can't afford it), to go to church, to have 1,2,3, or 4 kids. I found these answers fascinating and realized that maybe Beth Moore and I generalize too much.

Eating: Being around Annie for a week was great for eating less. She really does eat when she is hungry (sometimes starving) and takes small amounts and then stops (fancy that idea-stopping the shoveling of food in one's mouth when one is full even if there is still food in front of oneself!) So I hope I have lost a few pounds but I can't tell since I do not have a scale (unlike my friend's uncanny ability to feel 10 lbs oozing out of him). So between controlling my eating and exercising, esp running, I hope to beat this middle age spread and slowing of metabolism. I also save money by splitting meals (did so with Karen, Dave, and Elizabeth whenever possible).