The California Account

[tinhuviel]

2 July 2004 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time
THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE WING...SOME...THING!

So here we are in the air. We've been up here for about 45 minutes and there's been a fair amount of turbulence. Our pilot is John Popper and our flight attendant is played by Nancy Travis in this film. A good time is being had by all.

Once the initial panic of having no ground under my paws subsided, I took about a 15 minute nap. That white noise gets me every time. After I finish writing this, I'll probably sleep some more while Aunt Tudi gazes out the window like that beagle in the Geico commercial.

Our seats are directly on the wing, which made me think of Ace Ventura impersonating William Shatner in the Twilight Zone show about the gremlin. "There's something on the wing....Some thing!" heh

The old bag in front of us is sharing her noxious flatulation with the rest of the passengers. This may be why I'm prone to sleep....her gas is knocking me out.

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3 July 2004 9:12 a.m. Pacific Time
OWLS

We arrived to the Grandmother Unit's hous around Noon yesterday. She had lunch on the table and a strong hug reserved for both Aunt Tudi and myself.

As I sad down for lunch, I noticed a shelf against the wall in the dining room that was covered with nothing but owl figurines in various shapes and sizes. Truly this amazed me because no one in my immediate family around which I was raised had any sort of affinity for owls except for me. I, too, have owl figurines and the owl (any owl, but particularly the snowy owl) has been my favourite bird since early childhood. Now I know from whom I inherited that particular fascination.

The day was spent getting to know each other better and catching up on the years. It was a much more comfortable situation than I expected, given my rampant shyness. I wish I had more time to spend with the Grandmother Unit and the Mother Unit. There's never enough time.

Today, they're planning on taking us to the Scripps Aquarium and to see a lighthouse or two. Given the traffic in this area and the fact that it's a holiday weekend, they say this will take up the majority of the day.

I need to get to an ATM. When I get back from this trip, I'm gonna have to figure some way to pay for all of it. Worrying about money is putting a bit of a damper on my "good time"; however, I didn't come here for a good time. I came to reunite with family and will carry out my mission by any means necessary. So it is said, so shall it be done. As always, I WILL PREVAIL.

More later.

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3 July 2004 11:27 p.m. Pacific Time
SEAHORSES, LIGHTHOUSES, AND ITALIANS, OH MY!

I can't even remember when we headed out, but it was late in the morning. Our first stop was Point Loma. Point Loma has two lighthouses, one that didn't function very well because the rocks masked its light and the newer one that is run by the Navy. The older one is now a museum and we got to go into it and read about the lighthouse keeper's way of life. Even though the tower was closed to the public at the time, we still got to climb the spiral stairs. It was fascinating. Before the lighthouse, we went to a particularly dramatic overlook and took some photos. The Pacific Ocean has an incredible blue-green hue to it thoroughly unlike the winsome grey of the Atlantic. Kelp abounds in those waters as well. After the overlook, we went on to the Cabrillo Monument and Aunt Tudi posed with a couple of lifesize figures in the museum there. The lighthouse was the last stop and thankfully so, after climbing that steep hill and steep stairs. Shaky knees doesn't quite describe my legs after all that.

Off we went to La Jolla and the Scripps Aquarium. Mama's friend Matt was to meet us there and we were to see the creatures of the sea. They had an incredible seahorse display there. I'd never seen seahorses except on television, so this was a real treat for me. The kelp forest in which the larger fish dwelt was also a moving experience for me. Had it not been for the screaming children, the visit would have been one of perfection. Oh, they had a Jaws replica in which you could climb and give the appearance that the shark is swallowing you. Pictures shall be forthcoming.

By the time we left Scripps, it was going on 3:00 p.m. Everyone was hungry, so we zipped by Jack's and got some food before returning home. After eating, we all took a brief siesta which lasted the majority of the afternoon.

Upon the siesta's completion, it was now around 7:30 p.m. and the girls were hungry again, having eaten relatively lightly earlier. I'd already said I wanted to take everyone out to dinner, so off we went to Anthony's. The restaurant is apparently an Italian Seafood establishment. Both the Grandmother and Mother Units ordered squid steak (yummy!) and Aunt Tudi ordered a captain's platter that had crab cakes, salmon, and shrimp on it. I had a wee bowl of clam chowder from which I ate only a few small bites. I also had one of Aunt Tudi's shrimp and a bite of the Mother Unit's squid steak. The Grandmother Unit ordered some wine and insisted that she pay for it since it was her wine, but I insisted I pay since she'd put up with me whining for 24 hours. hahaha. It was a wonderful meal and everyone came home bloated like the puffer fish in Anthony's aquarium.

We stayed up late and listened to a tape of one of the Grandmother Unit's cruise performances of which she later gave me a copy. She flawlessly sang some of the classic songs from the real Jazz Era and I can tell now where I get my own meager vocal talents. I could never sing like her, but at least I know why I can at least carry a decent tune. Impressed doesn't cover my emotions regarding her talent. While listening to the tape, I watched her and could tell how painful it is on her that she can no longer sing. This broke my heart.

It's time to sleep now....

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4 July 2004 6:21 p.m. Pacific Time
MOTHER OCEAN AND SISTER LAKES

We got up early and prepared for the day's itinerary. It was to be a day of water and birds. Aunt Tudi got her shower first and noticed a spraying problem at the hose that connects the shower head to the faucet. It was my turn to get a shower and I got just barely damp when the hose totally broke. EGADS! The Grandmother Unit was all a-dither about it. Ah well. I put up my hair and washed off the best I could, then we were off.

First stop: Imperial Beach. Here is where I got to place my feet in Mother Ocean. The water was cool and clear, and kelp wrapped around my ankles. It was a lovely feeling. We spent around an hour there, picked up some gifts for family and friends, then off we went to Santee Lakes.

The purpose for going to the lakes was to spot a few birds. Another thing that the Grandmother Unit and I have in common is a love for birds and the fine hobby of birdwatching. With binoculars and field guide in tow, we carried out our mission with gusto. Most of what we saw were mallards, but I did get to see some coots and even a mother coot with her "cootlings" paddling around their nest. Our last viewing was of a male and female wood duck, sheltered in the shade, actively avoiding the paddle boats.

We returned home early today because we were all pretty tired. Everyone is napping right now and I'm watching the Twilight Zone marathon on Sci-Fi. Hang on...here comes Grandma.

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5 July 2004 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time
FLY AWAY HOME

We said our goodbyes to the Grandmother Unit and the Mother Unit at 10 this morning, and boarded the plane at 12:30. Only a couple more hours to go before landing in Detroit for our air link. I'm tired, dehydrated, and sad to have to say goodbye. I'm promised Grandma that I would try to visit her again before too very long. I get the feeling that we need more time to make up for all the time we've lost. Here's hoping I can work it out.

Our flight attendant is being played by Montel Williams in this movie. He's not terribly friendly, but that's okay, neither am I. I think I have a pulled muscle in my back. Ow.

I'm looking forward to the Detroit airport. They have a tunnel that connects terminal A with terminals B & C. As you walk through it, the walls of the tunnel change colour, all muted blues and greens with various designs, and there's crystalline New Age sounds that play throughout your journey. It kinda reminded me of Logan's Run. Whoever thought that up was either a lightshow guy for Pink Floyd at one time or a really big fan of LSD....or both.

It's time to nap.

Comments

[falkenna.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Tin, it was great to read this. I'm sooo glad you had a good time, it sounds fantastic. (I have a few owls about the place as well -- those whom Athena claims for her own, and all that.)

[godblossom.livejournal.com]

You and I have dipped our feet in the same waters...we used to go to Imperial Beach a lot when I was a seedling :)

So glad you got to see San Diego - it was great to go there again through your LJ :D

[ealdthryth.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a good time and thinks went well with the relatives.