Forever A Fangirl

TRUE BLOOD: Season 2.04 'What did Jessica make the man shout at the hotel?' VIDEO Screencaps 'Shake & Fingerpop' #trueblood

    

A:"Becky Eubanks is a stuck up whore who let Jayce finger her in church!"
(Courtesy HBO)

Above, you see the scene where Sookie (ANNA PAQUIN), having traveled by Anubis Air (vampire-serving airline) disembarking in the airline hangar as Jessica (DEBORAH ANN WOLL) and Bill (STEVEN MOYER) 'rest'. The flight was delayed, so it is now nighttime. Disembarking, alone in the private hangar, Sookie's chauffeur seems odd, asking strange questions, then he attempts to abduct her...and the fun begins.

True Blood. Jessica 2x04 funny scenes.

A number of reviews are saying that last night's True Blood, Episode #16 (E2.04) was the best episode of the season so far.

Don't get me wrong, 'Shake & Fingerpop' was great but I have to wonder if going two weeks without a fresh episode helped sway them? In the case of a few who had been given episodes 1-4 to review, so they knew what was coming, I think probably yes. in their case too, I think having to keep mum about it for the extra week made them extrasuperexcited about it when it did finally officially air.

My opinion? I thought it was as good as Episode 1 this season. You cannot beat starting season 2 TRUE BLOOD finding out that no, it was not Lafayette dead in the back of Andy Bellefluer's old beater in Merlotte's parking lot only to find Miss Jeanette --minus her heart in full rigor mortis.  Literally a stiff.

Then to discover that in Eric of all people living or undead, had Lafayette chained up in his basement. Also in that episode, we saw a terrified Lafayette bear witness to an extremely irritated Eric who happened to be getting his hair bleached by Pam, and so had foils in it as he disemboweled Laffy's fellow prisoner. All that and more in the premiere of season True Blood season 2.

Was last night better? No--but it was just as good.

My favourite scene in the Jessica-centric Episode 2.04 is above - CREDIT: HBO/ True-Blood.net.

 

 

This Hoyt-Jessica-Bill-Sookie scene was very well-played by all. Loved this particular moment:

ANNA PAQUIN AS SOOKIE AND STEPHEN MOYER AS BILL IN TRUE BLOOD 2.04 'SHAKE & FINGERPOP' - Sookie: "Bill, that's just plain rude!"

 

 

 

True Blood (HBO) Jessica, Hoyt, Sookie and Bill, Episode 2.04 'Shake & Fingerpop' Screencaps:

 

Episode 2.04 'Shake & Fingerpop' Screencaps: Sam & Maryann - 'Not an Alpha':

True Blood Season 4 News and Spoilers Updated: (02.25.11) #trueblood

SPOILER PHOTOS: True Blood Season 4 - Merlotte's Waitress Watches As Home Goes Up In Flames

Are They Burning Witches In Bon Temps?

From the Thursday, February 24th L.A. location shoot of HBO's True Blood, comes some spoilerific shots of Merlotte's owner,  shapeshifter Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell), waitress/witch Holly Cleary (Lauren Bowles) and Bon Temps police chief Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) responding to what seemed to be Sam's little shoebox rental homes up in flames.

Source: AccidentalSexiness

(Photo Credit: Sam Sharma)

 

 

Eric Northman - Alexander Skarsgård: What Do You Make Of This?

(2.24.11 Update)

 
Still desperately sniffing out any details we can for True Blood - Season 4, today comes news via King Bloodhound Ausiello @ TV Line that vampire Eric's maker, Godric, played by Allan Hyde, shall be returning  to True Blood in Season 4. As you may recall, Godric met the 'true death' near the end of  True Blood Season 2 on the rooftop of a Dallas hotel with a weeping Sookie by his side.

It would seem then that any present day incarnation of Godric is kind of doubtful. However, very little of Eric and Godric's 1000-year history has been explored so speculation is that it is pretty likely that Eric's maker will return via flashback.

True Blood creator/showrunner Alan Ball is not, accroding to Ausiello, 'offering too many clues, except to say that fans will see “a different side of Godric.”'

True Blood, Season 4 premieres on HBO on June 12, 2011.

1000 years ago: Eric gets made.

 

 

True Blood - Ausiello Casting & Kristen Insider Spoilers (2.15.11):

New 'Wolf" Cast,  Set Spoilers:

True Blood‘s werewolf hierarchy is about to experience a tectonic shift.

Daniel Buran is joining the HBO smash as Raoul, the werewolf packmaster of Shreveport. By my calculations, that makes him Alcide’s boss!

Buran, whose credits include appearances on CSI: NY, Criminal Minds and Southland, as well as CSI creator Anthony Zuiker’s digi-novel Level 26: Dark Origins, will appear in roughly seven episodes of TB‘s upcoming fourth season.

 

Source: True Blood Exclusive: Meet Alcide's New 'Boss'

(Photo Credit: http://www.level26.com)

EDIT above/ Kristen adds a bit of detail : 'Daniel will be playing Raoul, the Shreveport packmaster. Which means he'll be above Alcide (Joe Manganiello) in terms of werewolf rank. His role is described as "tough and intense," and he'll be recurring in at least seven episodes. Raoul's first appearance will be in episode 4.05, titled "I Hate You, I Love You." Guess we'll be getting a werewolf showdown as well as a witch war this season. True Blood is back on June12, 2011.

  Well, it has the greenery. Maybe the 'twinkle lights' haven't been turned on, yet?  That is Sookie's faery godmother, 'Claudine,' in the foreground, BTW.
(Photo credit: HBO, inc. via sookieverseblog.com)

Insiders tell E!Online that True Blood is currently shooting scenes in a stage decorated with twinkle lights and greenery that's being populated with beautiful men and women in gold body paint and robes. We're wondering if the fairy folk get as orgy-tastic as the maenad's followers once did?

Source: E!Online

Looks like True Blood has hit a home run with the casting of Daniel Buran as the Shreveport packmaster. Buran may play 'Raoul' as 'fuzzy,' but warm (other than 'blooded')? I don't think so! My guess is our ray of sunshine, Alcide and his 'boss'' are going to have a clash or two. Can't wait!

 

Much more after  the jump!

Trading Detroit-Windsor For Port Huron-Sarnia

View Larger Map

Starting back in June when we drove to Maple Lake, Ontario to open up the cottage for the summer we endured what was the most dreaded part of the trip--crossing the border into Canada at Detroit.

Crossing into Canada at Detroit-Windsor is frustrating, time consuming, confusing and worst of all IMO, frightening if you are unfortunate enough to to do so when it's dark.

Due to various commitments here we often did it in the dark--and I did it alone--for the last time I might add. The second to last time that we came home I made up my mind: no Detroit crossing for me. It appeared that crossing the border by driving slightly north--via Flint, MI would be viable though possibly of a longer duration. Every other trip we'd made via Detroit--six of them previously this summer--resulted in a travel time of a minimum of 13 hours. We don't dawdle or make excessive stops, either. Short stops with some brisk walking (we have a dog) and back on the road. This trip we ventured out and decided to blow Detroit off completely. The crossing at Port Huron-Sarnia was painless and fast and on the way home we made the almost 700 mile trip in 12 hours flat!

We had a superb long Labour Day weekend. We took an extra day so had three full days at the cottage. The weather just got better each day with the last actually getting quite hot. It was hands-down the best weather of the 5 weeks total that I spent on Maple Lake this year* and it was a fantastic send off for summer.

*They broke a 70-year record for rainfall.

My very favourite Maple Lake photo from summer, 2008.

 

Two weeks later this groin (the rock thing above that spouse built) help form this much beach (below w/ red canoe). There was no beach initially due to rain all summer.

   

 

Spouse is a master beach-maker!

 

Days gone bye

Four of them have and I've not got a lot to show for it.
Took son school supply shopping ostensibly for just his engineering class. Dropped $50 in the blink of a eye. Haven't gotten the supply lists for other classes but he thinks that we may not have to purchase 4 extra books for English again this year (we didn't have to but it was suggested so that when mid-term test time rolled around he'd have the books from which a chunk of it was based on).
Remember when all you needed to purchase for school supplies was a pencil and later, a pen? No? Then you are too young to relate. Modern parents buy a tons of stuff and then pay hundreds in book fees.

The second day home I took son and two of his long-times buddies to Gameworks from early afternoon through evening.

Son's 16th birthday and first day of school were yesterday and by then I felt like a wet dish-rag. The long drive home alone from the doesn't really hit me until a day or two later--and that's when (in my fantasies) I chill at home leisurely unpacking. There's been no chilling and nothing leisurely. Also no unpacking.

However I was reminded today of how much I missed the school-day "debriefings" son and I do immediately after school. I get to hear the news of the day whilst it is still fresh and he reinforces what is on his plate for each class. He really doesn't seem to mind it though it came about as a way for him to be better organized/us better informed.

So far, he's really digging his AP Physics and AP Trig and Calc classes. With the exception of one or two friends he's got a goodly amount in each class so the social aspect seems to be off to a good start, too.
Apologies to anyone who I've neglected online. It's just a pretty big deal to go away for a month but leave one person here--one person who does not really clean--yet didn't do anything strikingly bad either. I just have to wipe off everything before I touch it which was exactly as I did for the first week in the cottage after it was sealed up tightly for nine months.
Plus, no person of the male persuation in this house can "see" dust collecting EVERYWHERE.
Housework should be called house hard labour.

So OK, here I am about to attack the gmail. Stay tuned for some graphics of why my drive home took 1.5 hours longer than it should have (14 hours, total).

From Battle Creek to Climax to Kalamazoo, Michigan--one lane highway--many big trucks--top speed 20 mph. Usually 5 or 10 mph. The truckers, me, and other souls who had to shift gears were not really thrilled with this. Burned a quarter tank of gas.

Oh Detroit, what can one say that hasn't already been said? Who made the detour so I had to fear for my life to be able to get back in to the US? It's just a big circle! And my, what a lovely little tour of the city one gets! The construction mini-highway signs seemed to be directing me correctly but as I saw the last choice --94 East and no sign that said 94 West, I pulled into a well-lit Marathon station. The bullet-proof glass looked like it would be highly effective. The nice man inside quickly verified that I just needed to continue down the road and the on-ramp would be on my left. Then he added a grave-sounding "Be careful!" Holy moley. I was being careful--did not need confirmation that this was a scary place. I was sincerely trying get the heck out of there as quickly as my 5-speed would let me. So home is where I am, feeling sort of normal, finally. Still haven't unpacked my suitcase though I've been cheating and getting clothes to wear each day from it so I'll have less to drag out of there.

Think I smell dinner. Hasta.

Too soon to go

Getting ready to leave and I don't want to go. Even though everyone says this was the worst summer ever I've been happier than ever here in this little cottage. Life is very simple. Our water is unfiltered and comes from the lake about 100 feet from where I sit now. One cannot drink it, rather one must fill up big container of spring water which can be obtained for free near the tiny airport about 2 miles from here.The airport and a now-shuttered resort are what brought people from Toronto to this lake in the first place in the first half of the 20th Century.

We do a lot of our grocery shopping at a little market with one butcher and one bakery lady. All the dairy and meat products are fresh, obtained locally as is much of the produce.

For the first time ever there is a local radio station, "The Moose"--they play a lot of Rush-- and they'll show up to almost any little event. Today spouse went to buy grass seed and they were there broadcasting at the Not Home Depot, raising money for some lifts for the two hospitals in this massive county. They thanked my spouse as "Roger from Chicago" on the air which tickled him.

The counter lady at the brand new Rexall drugs recommended a local photographer for my son and I to get our Canadian passport photos taken. She'd had no trouble she said, last winter when she and her children had theirs done and sure enough, it went off without a hitch for us, too. Afterward, we got milkshakes, possibly the best anywhere, at a local ice cream stand that's been there at least 30 years, maybe more.

On that trip into town I ordered the rustic wooden sign I've wanted made--don't know where I'll put it but it'll be hand-carved and ready to pick up when I come back to close the cottage in September. It's says "Alice's Place" and will have two little hearts as embellishments, in remembrance of the woman to whom I can thank for the privilege of being here--my grandmother. My grandfather outlived her by 35 years and after he died at age 101 the county put a road sign at the end of our dirt and gravel road--"Frank's Lane" --which is nice but I want to make sure that we are reminded of her, too. I think of her often but many folks though they know of my grandfather don't have any reference to my grandmother.
There is a teevee but it only gets one channel so we never use it and don't miss it. We play Uno at night or watch movies. In the evening too one hears the nearby haunting call of the loons, which scares our little dog.

 

Spouse spent much of his time building a groin to better build the beach and when he finished that he secured the bank down to the lake with the many stones that had been buried in the sand--some almost the size of boulders. My grandfather had them hauled in many, many years ago. Spouse also fixed both sets of stone steps which take you down the 15 feet or so to the beach and the lake. It's peaceful through the week and because of the wet and cool weather even weekends have been  more quiet than normal.

 

We are in the woods on a lake. I've had this privilege all my life and I realize how very precious it is. After dinner tonight spouse and I took the canoe out further than he'd ever been and so got a view of the lake which was completely new for him. We saw the ever-present common loons and a beautiful blue heron that swooped by us.

I have to leave this life, go back to suburbia as school is starting and my son is turning 16--both on August 20-- and I owe that to my son but I do not want to go--at all.The one concession to modern life has been what facilitated me being able to stay here for a month--the satellite internet. I've gotten a lot of work done--but on my own schedule. I did a conference call today which involved pulling up visuals on the Internet and it was totally awesome to do so in my swimsuit and shorts. Heaven if there is one, could not be any better than right here.

Cold, Colder, Coldest

It's another rainy day here at the cottage. It's very, very cold for this time of year as well--if we are lucky there will be a high of 60F today. I really doubt it though.
I'm glad I brought hoodies because I'm wearing them with the hoods up--indoors.
I've not ever had to use a space heater that I can recall but both of them are cranked up right now.
I've been blog-keeping, younger son is watching 80's and 90's cartoon openings on YouTube, and spouse drew the short straw has gone to West Guilford to do laundry. Supposedly, the weather is going to improve slightly as the weekend progresses so we figured we'd get the bigger chores out of the way whilst it is like this.
Anyway what better a way to feel cheery than to look at some photos of last night's trip into Haliburton to Win Yeung for some Canadian Chinese food, followed by some sightseeing around the village.

 

No one home: a home at the perimeter of Stanhope Airport

 

Head Lake, Haliburton

 

Moon over Grass Lake, West Guilford

Grass Lake, West Guilford

Canoe, Canoe

We finally had a non-choppy enough lake upon which to take the canoe today. Spouse and Raven had gone out earlier and covered lots of territory and later he and I went.
It's quite a different perspective when one views the shore from the lake. I think I was struck most by how the depth varies and in turn the type of vegetation growing (reeds, lily pads, etc.) Our area is shallow water until pretty far out with sandy bottom, other areas have an immediate drop off at the lake's edge and are muddy-bottomed. This too was the first time I took the camera out with it's waterproof housing. It's kind of tricky to change settings say from telephoto to standard but it's a learning curve that I think we'll get through pretty quickly.
There are so many large luxurious homes on the lake now, too. Odd-looking sometimes like when a humble cottage is on either side of a higher-status home.
We ran into some very choppy waters when the winds that accompanied a big storm adjacent to our area blew through. That was a bit exciting though I had no worries and soon enough we paddled through. I am pretty tired from the sun, canoeing and swimming afterward so I'll probably come back to this later tonight or tomorrow with some photos. The temperature has taken severe plunge now and I'm about to flake out but can't until I compete a few more tasks.
Cheers!

Must keep the unibrow at bay!

Today I drove top down through the countryside in the sweltering sauna that was this part of the world purely for vanity --to get my roots touched up before taking off to go up north. I only see the folks  that I do once a year--so yeah, don't want them counting back and remembering how old I am even though they know exactly how old I am. Vanity...a very stubborn trait for me. I don't even quit with the eyebrow plucking up there. Really silly standing around tweezing when the outdoors is calling but must keep the unibrow at bay!

Originally posted on theloveumake.vox.com

I did it! (I flipped my video)

Explanation of post. :)

I finally got the "calm" part of this video clip turned on it's side so it viewable without getting a crick in your neck! The simple answer was:

On Windows, follow the instructions at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0075.mspx#EPD. Then save the file to your computer, using any of the high quality movie presets, and upload this rotated file.

Thank goodness this worked as I usually shy away from seeking help from the Microsoft website...but all the alternatives to getting a video shot in portrait displayed horizontally had me changing the file type first after downloading software I've never heard of (not that I should have) and only then being able to flip it to  a non neck-impairing angle.

I can't imagine that I'm one of few people, given the proliferation of point and shoot cameras with a video feature, that has gotten bold enough to film 30 seconds in the non-standard (though very commonly used) photographic format.
The thing I keep reminding myself is that this is videography, however primitive my equipment, not photography which is where I plan to stay in the future, in deference to my own sanity. :)

Permalink

Pretty/Cool

These photos were taken at Maple Lake over Labour Day Weekend (Sept, 2007). My younger son tells me that Canadians initiated Labour Day before the United States. I do so admire Canada's ability to just say "no" to work by having "civic holidays." We took advantage of one in August. :)   

   

       

               

                        

                   

            

               

Misty Morning

            

            

   

   

       

               

                        

Went down to say hello to the Lake at about 4 a.m. It's a ritual/I couldn't sleep and whilst walking the shoreline, startled this little guy out of the water and onto the beach. He's about the size of a big bug.                  

                           

Leopard Frog

            

   

       

               

                        

                     

            

               

Sunset Fishing

This little row boat is weighted down by many kids!

            

            

   

 

       

               

                        

                 Sunset Fishing                     

        Same as above photo with histogram adjusted to better see cabin/woods detail   

 

            

   

Maple Lake, Ontario~ 2007

Surprise! I have scads of photographs.

But first...
We bought our first boat,  a 15.5 foot red canoe. I had grand plans for quality family time in it but it seems that though he easily navigated the choppy waters of the Pacific in a kayak last summer, canoing on Maple Lake is not my son's "thing."

He swamped us...in the black water...with Raven along for the ride.
It wasn't so bad because we were not far from our beach and he was very shaky from the get-go
so we were more or less waiting for it to happen (though I murmured reassuringly any time he seemed to relax a bit).

So over we went and boy, was it a lesson in every living thing for him or herself.  Our 12-pound dog immediately took off, dog paddling her way towards the wrong beach (any beach in a swamping, I suppose). We are all strong swimmers so I swam after Raven and collared her, steering her towards our beach. Also in our favour was the very low water level this year so we did not have far to go before we were in the shallows. We reached shore to find Raven awaiting us on our beach looking none-too-pleased about the situation.
I love the canoe though and can't wait to go again. Spouse likes it as well so perhaps we'll have Chris and Raven travel this way---->


next time.

For ages now, I've wanted a safer way to have a campfire in the evening so I was happy to find a portable copper fire pit. It's on legs and has a screen cover to cover it once the fire dies down a bit. Of course, one always has a bucket of water handy just the same.

                                                                                                         

This pic was taken prior to my spouse trimming the bank, bushes, and taking  down a tree damaged in last year's tornadoes. I spent a lovely afternoon sitting here listening to the soft lapping of the waves on the beach, relaxing and reading. :)

Ducks~

                       

   

       

                

                                            

            

               

Maplelake.08.07

            

           

   

The water level was very low for the first few days of our time at the Lake. The beach was much wider than normal, though the water gradually rose to almost-normal levels over the time we vacationed there.

   

       

                

                                            

            

               

Maplelakeducks.08.07

            

           

   

As I was just getting out of the water and on to the beach, a whole flock of ducks swam up within a few feet of me. Though I was quite surprised,  I managed to get off a few snaps.
                       

   

       

                

                                            

            

               

Maplelakeducks2-08.07

            

           

   

                       

   

       

                

                                            

            

               

Duckmania.08.07

            

           

   

Holy cow! Cool bill! And I love her markings. Her feathers almost match the colour of the sand-bottom lake perfectly!

                                                                

                       
                    

 

 

Being a grown-up is everything they said it would be

I’m quite conflicted in thought about my high school freshman son’s choice to take a condensed version of a “required” class over the summer.

It’s actually two classes, "Health" and "Consumer Education.". Suggested by his adviser,  theoretically, taking classes over the summer would put a kid ahead but that’s not what’s really happening here. Chris now has “made room” for another, most likely, AP class for sophomore year

For fall he has scheduled a class during his normal lunch time though he’ll be allowed to grab a tray from the cafeteria and take it with him to his tailored-for-Gifted-Program-kids class, “Critical Thinking.” Lunch on the run/at your desk—isn’t that how much of the working world does it every day?

This just makes my head hurt and my heart force me to consider if this is how a teenager should live his life. Put in 6 weeks of summer school when you don’t have to?

Part of me—the part that wants him to aim really high and make it? I think its great do this stuff ‘cause doing so might help get a partial scholarship to college (I know, magical thinking).

The other part of my brain is twitching about, worrying that he’s already taking AP classes, shouldn’t he let his brain get the down time of a full summer break?

Plus this really fraks with our summer vacation plans (which come a distant last to his schooling).

Ack! I wanna be selfish!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Festivus!!!

We'll have a relatively quiet morning here then we are headed up toward the Wisconsin-Illinois border to have Christmas with my spouse's family. For Roger's sil & brother it is their first Christmas in their first house with a new-this-year baby! So there should be good cheer right there.

                              

 

On Boxing Day I'm catching a red eye to Baltimore with my brother and his wife to go see my parents for a few days. My dad is struggling caring for my mom since her stroke (not her first) and fingers & toes crossed they'll consent to letting us help them move here.                                

 

                               

I'll be back home Friday and glad of it, I'm sure.

                               

 

                               

Happy Winter Solstice (week)!

                               

love,

                                 

--Cyn

San Diego, August 2006

Son & Father

I've been pouring over my photographs from our recent southern California vacation and I'm less impressed with the quality as I spend more time with them. I think I was more focused on having a good time then getting a great photograph  and that about sums it up.

I have a bunch of Disney "Remember Dreams Come True Firework Spectacular"  photos but fireworks are never as good in photos or on video as they are up close and in person.

Here's a favourite:

Spouse took the fireworks photos--a very good job I think as it is not easy photographing light.

Okay, you twisted my arm--one more:

Pretty cool, huh?

Roger & Chris in Maple Lake, 2005

Aloha! Off to Maple Lake...

Hanauma Bay, O'ahu on a windy, not-good-for-snorkeling kind of day.

Flying Into Lihue Airport, Kauai

Is kind of Grand Canyon-esk. In a small way.

All three above are Waimea State Park/Canyon on Kauai. Used both the Canon D-70 and the Cool Pix 775 ( 2.1 pixels). Very nice optical zoom on it, tho' ).

Hey, I'm out of here--off to Maple lake for a ibt.

Happiest of trails...

--Cyn

Near the Na Poli Coast, Kauai

'Anini Beach on the North Shore of Kauai--very good snorkeling here in July.

There was no "sun" in all the Hawaiian sunsets on Kauai this past week.
You know, the glowing orange disc one sees in both moving and still pictures of Hawai'i?

Not in Waikiki either, during the one night we stayed at the Pacific Beach Hotel on the 15th floor overlooking the Pacific (the place with the built-in house-size aquarium to eat breakfast by.)  :) Clouds came in each night just before (what seemed to us) the very-early-for-July sinking of the sun (7:30 p.m. Pacific). As my husband rightly pointed out however, the sky was still quite pretty as these unaltered photographs of mine show.
 
Anyway no sunsets--though we put in our best effort every night but one, it was kind of a running joke with us.
We still both fell hopelessly in love with Kauai.
O'ahu had the big-hotels on the the strip of sandy beach vibe--plus lots of surfers of course, but OMG the traffic sucked.

And a week definitely isn't long enough, though we got a pretty good start.
Next trip: Maui & Kauai.   :)   

Between Barking Sands (Missle Range :gulp:) and the outskirts of the Na Poli coastline (no-highway zone) area on northern Kauai, Hawai'i.

San Francisco, Open Those Golden Gates...

I'll be gone through next Monday. Going to San Francisco for a meet-up of folks I've known on-line and who have come to be friends. I'm extremely excited (and a bit nervous) but overall, thrilled to be going.

My day. The weather has sucked but since I'm leaving, it's going to turn hot. Heh.
The bright spot? After getting the last of the books shipped, I zipped by the pool and even though the skies had been threatening-looking all day, there was a lifeguard there and I got my swim in. It relaxed me greatly and I think it'll help me sleep.
I think all's good here on the homefront. I arranged a sleepover for my youngest on the one night his dad is working, o/w he'll be on his own for two days for a couple hours after school. I can live with that.

So I suppose I'll bid you all adieu and until next time...
be good!

--Cyn

Home Sweet Home

After a sunny California vacation, I come home to record low temps...NOT fair!

California was absolutely magnificent.

Of course Disneyland was fab--four days though, wore everyone out so heading down to San Diego was sweet relief. We managed to find our way to La Jolla Cove and my youngest son and I did some snorkeling--checking out pretty schools of fish amidst the swaying grasses. We overheard another swimmer say that there was a group of sea lions sunning themselves two small coves north of us, so Chris and I swam over there. He got a bit weirded out by the seaweed and other grassy stuff that kinda wraps around ones legs but once we found the sea lions--including some bigger baby sea lions, he said it was worth it. Swimming back against the tide to our point of origin was a bit of a challenge. I was really grateful that I swim year round because Chris tired and I "towed" him quite a bit. We were not in any danger though as there were people within shouting distance at all-times. It was great.
(This is how unbelievably bad parents we are--we were chillin' in our (kinda crummy) San Diego motel room (we weren't expecting the room to be crummy, but life is full of surprises, right?) near :ahem: Dog Beach--there were dogs everywhere. It's our first night in five "off" from Disneyland, and spouse was flipping channels and came across "Jaws," which was into maybe it's first 15 minutes. So we watched it with Chris (age 12 on Aug 20)--we're all in the same room, and he had no objection. All he really thought about it was that the shark looked fake. Considering how far special effects has come in 25 years, yeah, the shark did look fake. The story was still compelling though, plus it's of note because it's Spielberg's first big film.)
I so miss swimming in the Pacific. :sigh:
We only had a few hours to sight-see on the day we departed, so we went to Balboa Park. We were rewarded with free parking(!) many museums with an emphasis on the rich cultural history of San Diego, and some lovely gardens, with the huge desert garden being our favourite. The beauty of nature just takes my breath away and though I loved Disney, I think the next vacation I'll plan more natural stuff and less of the pre-fab.

In Disneyland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad remains closed and Space Mountain is down, as is the Enchanted Tiki Room. I'm looking forward to seeing a polished up, possibly slightly different Tiki Room--always a good place to duck into to get out of the sun. The Indiana Jones ride was broken down more than it functioned. What a disappointment (!) as it is an excellent ride but based on multiple visits this trip and on another vacation, there's got to be a design flaw somewhere...
Though I didn't see Mickey Mouse, Woody the cowboy from Toy Story came up behind me and pulled my ponytail. What a wiseguy.
My son is into flume rides and the only "real" one is at the Disney adjunct, California Adventure. It was very hot during the day, so lines were too long for comfort. We'd pick up some fast passes earlier in the a.m. and actually went mostly in midafternoon through evening--seeing indoor stuff, then heading outside later. The rides clear out at California Adventure near closing time, so Chris ended up going on Grizzly Bear Run 15 times! I went for the last five runs in swimsuit with shorts and was completely soaked on the first run. It's very fun because one does not know when "the geyser" will erupt, literally dumping buckets of water on you and the white water simulation is neat with lots of bashing and splashing about.

I love California Adventure--it's just not Disneyland--and it shouldn't be, IMO.

The new Hollywood Hotel "terror ride" is sufficiently realistic during the pre-ride stages that I ended up feeling less excited about the Haunted Mansion, but the newly redone Pirates of the Caribbean is still as fun as aways, just more modern in places (the ride wasn't terribly PC when made back when Walt was last at the helm).
Disneyland or the Disneyland Resort as it is now called, is evolving--as it should after 50 years, but it retains it's Disney-ness.

One more very important stop was my home of three years (ages 19-22)--Huntington Beach...the Surf City in I think, two Beach Boys songs. Walked the (used-to-be-wood-but-a big-storm-blew-it-down) concrete pier. Ate lunch--a fabulous fresh Cobb salad-- with avocado--yum! at Ruby's restaurant at the end of the pier.
From the look of the empty buckets and the glum expressions of some the people fishing, it seemed like it was a bad fishing day--was hoping to see an interesting "catch" but was not to be. I did "catch" a pretty girl surfer, the only one of two when she was within camera range as they surfed near the pier. It wasn't a great day for the surfers, either. :/ (pics to follow)

I am sooo tired right now. Miracles of miracles, this was the very first time we came home from vacation and the house was NOT wrecked (we got in around 1 a.m. this morning). The fish weren't dead from not being fed, either.
Amazing.