Time for some detective work

R had his 2nd bladder tumor removal today, took longer that is could have, the patient before him had complications, we didn't get out of the hospital until 4:30 for a 10 am surgery. Both Drs claim that the best cause is smoking. R tried it as a kid and tossed his cookies. Gotta be other reasons. This Dr also claims heavy metals and benzadrine, mechanics fight it As long as they stay benign all is just a darnnnnnn incovience. We're going to have to face this yearly. If they go malignant it's over fast. That's why they want them out, fast. 5 days til verdict.

San Francisco

Like visiting an old friend. Got smart. put our "luggage" on our backs. Dressed matching, got a bus pass. Whole trip didn't cost 500. Brought home Chinese pork buns, sponge cake, sourdough starter, sand, photos, lace, 2 fans, and sore feet.
Good music, but need to put aside the whole 3 days if we do it again, and could. Amazing to be as far away from the stages as we were and still hear clearly.
Took the BART into downtown, had breakfast at a cute bistro, got a photo of Robert in front of
Embarcadaro 3, where he worked years ago. Grabbed a Cable Car bought an all day pass, boy howdy is that the way to do it, and made our way to the end of Fisherman's wharf. Had hot Cocoa with pumpkin pie spice for R and Carmel for me at Giradelli's. yummy. Walked around several HUGE ships, got reminded just how much I miss the sound of waves, got a new pearl and it's shell, had a wonderful bowl of seafood and sourdough listening to gulls chase bread crumbs. Bought 6 small sourdough loaves. Saw sourdough bread shaped as teddybears, alligators, crabs. Went thru the penny arcade. Kept finding pennies on the ground, decided it's a conspiricy, leave pennies and the tourists will pick them up and spend 50 cents to have it pressed with a souviener picture. We were tourists. Recorded the Regina, would love to own one. The carousel on the wharf is gone. Replaced by a Hard Rock Cafe. Grrrr.
Made our way to China town, got pork buns and a sponge cake. Walked down hill, (you either walk down hill or up unless your at the wharf0 and ate our pork buns (they never bothered my stomach, miracles of miracles) while we watched the folks play card games and laugh. Much laughter in that pretty park. Bought another case to carry the bread and the 2 new pashmeres, beautiful chop sticks battenburg lace collars and 2 fans. Found the billfold R's been looking for. Lots of street vendors on Market street. didn't buy a thing. Beautiful weather. Fog in an out all 3 days. Took longer that our sore feet would have liked to find the right bus back to near the airport and our motel room. Lovely Travelodge, Nice open shower, no bathtub, was a handicap room, they'll get a good review.
Decent continental breakfast, made it easier to hop back on the bus and head back to downtown The Hardly Strickly Bluegrass Festivals website said it started at 10 am, so we got there early only to find nothing happened till 2pm. The bus driver told us which stop to get off, and we ended walking about a mile up the path to the actual festival. As we were walking R asked "are those raspberries?" All kinds of blackberry bushes dotted the park pathways. So we noshed on the way in. Once we got in and found nothing was happening, I noticed a path up the hill, thru the trees of every kind, and less than 2000 feet over the hill was the same road and a bus stop, if only we'd known. Our all day bus passes let up hop on the bus and go down about 8 blocks to the Safeway where we grabbed snacks, and walked 2 blocks to the beach. We toured the visitors center to the park, fasinating history, that park shouldn't exist. It was originally sand dunes and bogs, wouldn't know that now. Grabbed the bus back to the shortcut and spent about 5 or 6 hours at the festival. Good music, really good music. Amazing sound set up, we could clearly hear a football field away. Huge happy, well behaved crowd, some sweet local gave up her seat for one preformance, she went to another stage. I won't go again without seats.
We left before it got too dark and got on what quickly became a very crowded bus back into downtown, stopped at Mel's diner for supper, then took the bus back to the motel, crashed an burned.
Last day, leisurely pack up, breakfast and hit the 8:30 bus back to town and figured out how to get to the Golden Gate Bridge. Good Golly that things Ginormous. No way would I walk it. Photos. Then back to China Town, their China Town, hardly any English, but a great lunch in a cafe with the pretties ceiling. Dumpling soup, dumplings with a whole shrimp and other seafood inside. R had a great lamb curry. Had to walk down 2 hills to the tourist China town and picked up the legondary sponge cakes, stopped and listened and talked with a Yang Quin player, it's VERY simular to the Hammered Dulcimer. One last trip on the Cable Car, down to the BART station and head home.
Lovely trip, not a single problem except trying to make sure which bus to ride when. At least they're often enough. Thoughts occur, volunteer at the festival next time. Do nothing but the Festival, Ok, it's not too far to China Town for dinner. Get a hotel IN town. Come up Highway 1 with a trailer and stay near the beach. Intend on going back, it's like an old friend.

flat tire

not a good day, flat tire on the way to work and no lug wrench in the car. Spare was flat too, but didn't find that til I made it to work. Thank the GL for good samaritians.
R'sgot surgery Oct 6 and I think he's not happy. SF next weekend, finally.

Im bummed out

White Fence Farm cancelled on me. The grape arbor is dropping grapes and the bees are having a great time so it's not performance friendly. R's wrapped up in his ham/emergency preparedness and I don't know what do, it's hotter than heck outside I can't play the accordion long enough to join with an accordion group. I'm bummed.

happy days

Lovely b-day grandma 6.0 rode 2 merry go rounds the Denzel at Cheyenne Mt zoo and the one at Co mills. going back to that one. Found R's missing hat. Found a fabulous western wear store, could spend lots of money , if we had it. party with the kids. Le Ly makes exquizid cupcakes. Ly totally got the kitchen clean, that was a wonderful gift. somedays i dispare a ever seeing that clean. Lo & D gave me an etable arrangement, lasted all weekend long, made camping much more enjoyable. Still hate my job especially when new neighbors are moving in that they're taking out walls on the other side of my wall.

White Fence Farm

Was a very quiet victory. The place doesn't open til 4pm and everyone heads for the dining room and then after supper they wander, so I played by myself for about an hour in a very pleasant venue. I want a grape arbour just like theirs. It was probably 15 degree cooler under there. They asked me back. I shall return.

I'm on edge but excited

Tomorrow 4:30 White Fence Farm Grape Arbor Hammered Dulcimer preformance, Nervous, keep making mistakes on pieces I know backwards. Ggirls dress is done so is bonnet and slippers. Less weeds in the garden and one fence post is up. North side of garage has has it's concrete done, now we need to move dirt to start other sides. Got busy weekends ahead. Clean Chapel and HD this weekend, my bday next weekend, wonder if anyone remembers I'm turning 60 I made it. Don't feel it. Following weekend, Manitu Music fest, next week sewing classes all Saturday.