San Diego, Day 5: Carriers and Cruises

Wednesday, May 27th, was our last full day of sightseeing and playing. As soon as Jared got back we strolled along the boardwalk on our way to our destination: the USS Midway. A retired naval aircraft carrier. (It wasn't here 12 years ago when we were).

On our stroll I saw this boat in the marina. This picture is for my friend Amanda and her baby Millie G.! Pretty sweet, eh Amanda?


And 'thar she blows'! The USS Midway.





This was an audio tour. We each got a headset and could input the number that corresponded to an aircraft or part of the carrier and the man in your ear would tell you about it. Pretty cool that we could pick and choose what we wanted to know. Unfortunately, we didn't have a ton of time before it closed. So we hit the planes first. Those are the most important! Would you expect anything less from an aviator's daughter?

How many of these aircraft can you identify by name? I can't name any of them. But my 9 year old can.

I'm guessing this is the A-4 since I'm standing by it. If so, that's the jet my dad flew.








And Jared's favorite...the F-14 Tomcat.


This is a view of The Fish Market from the carrier which was right next door. We ate on the enclosed "veranda" for dinner the night before.


We were guided by a volunteer through the upper portion of the carrier where all the instruments are. (If it wasn't 2 months after the fact, I'd probably remember what that part of the carrier is called). We also went below deck to see how they "lived." (Very closely...like sardines). It also helps to be short, we discovered.


We were a little pressed for time because we had a dinner cruise of the bay that night. The vessel departed at 6:30 and it was already 5pm. So we hailed a bike taxi and enjoyed not having to walk back. Poor guy. He got a work out. We always felt bad when we had to stop because getting started is always the hard part. We even sat up, keeping our bums glued to our seats, and shot our bodies forward a couple of times to help with the momentum all the while praying no vehicle would hit us.


And this was our cruising vessel "High Spirits."


Each person was given a complimentary glass of champagne. However if you were under-age or don't drink alcohol, they had sparkling apple cider as an alternative. The boat looked smaller than it was. We were in the very back and loved our little secluded area with the unobstructed view out the stern.




We did a double-take when we saw this "vessel" shoot past us.


I forgot to mention the BEST part of this cruise, outside of the ambiance and dining on the San Diego Bay at sunset....we got a 2-for-1 deal! There was a coupon for it on the back of the paper map we were given by the hotel tipster. I saw it when we first arrived but didn't think that was something Jared would be interested in doing. He came back to the hotel room Tuesday afternoon and said he found the perfect thing for our last night and showed me a dinner cruise pamphlet. That's when I showed him the 2-for-1 coupon and we did a high five!



This was a four course meal with love songs piped in through the speakers by our DJ. We had a yummy warm spinach-artichoke dip with crackers. Then a Caesar salad. Next came our steak and chicken dinner with potatoes and steamed veggies. I actually didn't eat a ton of the main course. I kind of lost my appetite. Seasick? Nope. Jake had called right after we were served. He was so excited. He said, "Do you know that plaque that the coaches (baseball) give out at the end of the games?" I said, "yes." Then he said, "I got it tonight!" I was so elated! and disappointed. Jake was MVP of that night's game and I missed it. I'm just glad my mom could be there to share his moment with him. Turns out my dad was at Cooper's game on another field at that same school. Apparently in one inning, when Jake was playing 3rd baseman, he caught a line drive, getting the batter out and then threw the ball from 3rd base to 1st base (the farthest distance) getting the runner who had left 1st base out. Then he caught another line drive, getting all three outs for the inning! We were so proud of him. And thank goodness for cell phones. We were both able to talk to him.

By then the sun was starting to set.




That's the USS Midway on the left lit up with the red and blue lights from Memorial Day.


While out on deck, we went to the stern of the boat and danced to a couple of songs. And that was JARED'S idea :) It was most enjoyable and very romantic.

And pictured here was the best cheesecake I have EVER had. Normally, I could take it or leave it but I could have eaten 6 slices of this. Yumm-O.


This dinner cruise of the bay at sunset was an INCREDIBLE, AMAZING opportunity that we may never get again. It was soooo much fun. So delicious and intimate. A PERFECT ending to a PERFECT trip.

San Diego, Day 4: Where it all began

Tuesday, May 26th, after eating yet another overly-priced breakfast, I went down to the pool and lounged. I had my book, my phone, and my towel and got comfortable. The pool was literally 10 feet from the bay and the breeze coming off of it was cool on this overcast day. Living 32 years as a redhead, I've learned, often the hard way, that overcast days are just as dangerous for getting sunburned, than those with the blaring sun.

I made a face, let out a sigh, gathered up my book, my phone, my towel and went allllll the waaaay back up to the 24th floor to put on the sunscreen I had forgotten to put on before going down the first time. The process of just going from point A to point B took almost 10 minutes because of the size of the hotel. I admit, I was in a bit of a hurry. I have no idea why. Jared was in classes for another 2 hours. Maybe I was worried my lounging chair would be taken when I returned, even though there were 50 others available, although not as close to the entrance as the first one I had staked out. Regardless, I slathered the sunblock on as quickly as possible all over.

My chair was still available so I repeated my routine and settled down for a nice little rest.

I decided it was too much work to read my book, so I called my friend Amanda instead. We talked for over an hour while I enjoyed the occasional warmth of the direct sun rays as the clouds floated through the sky.

After my conversation, I was starting to get hungry. Apparently a high priced meal doesn't also mean it's a long lasting one. I grabbed a sandwich at the Starbucks in the hotel (saving half for Jared) and went up to the room to get showered and ready. That afternoon, Jared and I had a date at the temple.

[As an aside, before Jared got home, I stood at our room window to take in the view some more. I thought it was pretty cool to see the destroyers going out to sea. I got excited for my boys and couldn't wait to show them. They're into the game Battleship right now].


If you've never seen the San Diego temple in person and from the highway, you're missing out. One second you're driving down the highway, minding your own business, waiting to take the required exit. The next second you blink and then WHAM! It's right there. It takes your breath away. I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. It totally had me mesmerized.


Once inside and I just had to tell everyone we passed that "this is where I was married 12 years ago and we haven't been back since!" as reverently as possible. I wanted everyone to know how exciting this day was for me and that I never thought I'd have the chance to visit again.

To add to the personal electricity and unique opportunity of that day at the temple, we were asked to be the witness couple. There was a young woman who was going through for her first time, as she was to be married the following week. I told her it was a great place to start her marriage. And then, because I couldn't help myself, I added, "I was married here too 12 years ago...and in the month May!"

I was the first person from our session to enter the Celestial room. I felt like I hit a wall that had SPIRIT written all over it. I was just stunned. And as I looked around, trying to take it all in and imprint all the beautiful images and overwhelming feelings in my mind and heart, I openly wept. The San Diego temple was even more breathtaking and special to me now than it had been when I first went there to be married.

Jared and I spent some time, more than we usually do, on the upper balcony of the Celestial room reminiscing about our special Wednesday in May of 1997 and all the happenings involved with our eternal marriage. We tried remembering which sealing room was ours and where the temple President had counseled us prior to taking us into the sealing room. And joked about the few things we actually remember from our ceremony.

On our way out of the Celestial room, one of the sisters encouraged us to take a look around. She motioned for us to go through a door which lead to the lovely atrium. It was enclosed in glass, but looking upward, it was open enough that you could see the spires from there. Like you could reach out and touch one.

We also determined we were sealed in Sealing room 7 :)

On our way back to the dressing room, we were told by another sister in the atrium (who had the tough job of reading her scriptures in there), to take the Grand Staircase back downstairs. That was so much fun. Fun in the temple? You bet! I felt like a Queen with her King.

In the dressing room, though, I started to feel a little heat. On my leg. Further scrutiny found that my upper right thigh, including the side of it up to my hip bone and along my bathing suit line was completely toasted! It was lobster red. Apparently, I had missed some parts of my leg with the sunscreen...in a slashed triangle sort of pattern. You know, the part of my leg that never sees the light of day and then it saw too much. And it got scorched. This was right about the time when the sunburn was starting the throbbing stage. I was just grateful the session was over. But we still had pictures to take outside, so I was just going to have to deal with it.

Jared and I went outside and had more fun with our camera. Just a note...these pictures just can't do the temple ANY justice. To experience the sheer size and magnificence of this amazing edifice, it must be visited in person.






Notice the red streaks on my neck? The white streaks are evidence that I had sunblock on my fingers but wasn't very thorough in my application of it.




On our last walk-around of the temple, we came across a senior missionary. He asked if we would like our picture taken. We told him we'd love it. Then I said (do you see it coming?), "We were married here 12 years ago and haven't been back until today!" He thought that was really neat and asked where we have been all this time. He got our history of moves in less than 2 minutes. He snapped the picture and said, "Beautiful couple." I'd like to think so! If not, I can at least say we were M.F.E.


We found the local church bookstore and made some purchases while I hobbled through my sunburn (the nylons were chaffing).

As we drove away after sunset, this was our parting scene. Isn't it lovely?


We got a tip for dinner from a local, but I can't remember who it was. We went to The Fish Market and after I shed my nylons in the ladies' room, we shared an appetizer sampler. We also had some of the best clam chowder and sourdough bread. The fun thing about this restaurant is that part of it hangs over the bay. Guess where we were seated? On the water!! I couldn't believe our luck. See?


Looking back on this trip, out of all the things we did, the biggest highlight, hands down, was our visit to the temple. Not only to be in the temple, but to be in the exact same holy place where our celestial marriage began.

San Diego, Day 3: Shopping mishaps & Lighthouses

On Monday, 25th (Memorial Day) after spending waaay too much money on an over-the-top breakfast at our hotel restaurant, I was off to go shopping. I had the time, access, a little bit of spending money and NO KIDS! This was going to be a successful day. Here's where I went. My first "outdoor mall."


Um, yeah. The outing was an exhausting waste of time and energy. I remembered painfully why I hate shopping. There was NOTHING I was looking for. And if on the off chance I found something I liked and was modest enough, there wasn't anything in my size. I couldn't believe it. I swear I've got the shopping curse. I can never find anything when I'm looking. But when I'm not looking or don't have the time or money, I always find cute things. What is UP with that??

And apparently I don't get out enough because I was at the GAP, going through the clearance rack. I saw what I thought was a pretty cute skirt. It was a neutral color and looked long enough. So I tried it on. I pulled it up to my waist and there was this extra pouch of fabric that hung off of my waist like an over-sized cummerbund. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what was wrong with this skirt. That's when it dawned on me. It wasn't a skirt. Oh no, that extra fabric was to be pulled over one's chest area. It was a very short, strapless dress. And that's when I decided to call it quits.

I grabbed a snack to eat on the way back to the hotel. I got about halfway there when I realized in my fashion embarrassment rush to get out of the GAP, I accidentally left my beloved running jacket Jared had just gotten me for my birthday a month previously. So I hauled my fanny back to the mall, went to every floor except for the one that the GAP was on until the very last and prayed that no one took it. Relief washed over me when I saw it sitting up by the front cashier. I thanked her and then started back to the hotel, again.

When Jared got back, we drove to the Point Loma Lighthouse. And we totally would have missed this opportunity except that one of the sisters in the ward we attended recommended we go. I was soooo excited. Anyone who knows me, knows I love lighthouses. But I didn't know there was one here, nor did I even consider there might be one nearby. Thanks for the tip, dear sister!



The thing about this lighthouse is that a few years after it was up and running, the people found that it was up too high. The fog that often came in would obscure the lamp and it didn't provide the needed light and direction. So....not too long after, they shut this one down and built a second lighthouse closer to the shore that could escape the fog and be more useful.


Pictures of the bay behind us...




With it being Memorial Day, we had the solemn privilege of walking through the military cemetery and paying our silent respect and gratitude to those who bravely fought for our freedoms.


The headstones went as far as the eye could see on those hills.


Once we got back in town, we went to


for dinner at


It was a quaint little bistro and the food was not a disappointment. There were lots of places to choose from, too. But how can you go wrong with a place called Mimmos?

San Diego, Day 2: Church & Coronado Island

The ward we were going to attend started at 9am on Sunday the 24th. We got up really early and had breakfast at Richard Walker's Pancake House which is a small but an elegant and popular place not far from our hotel. Later we discovered it is even highlighted in the tourist information packets. It was de-lish.

Then we went searching for the address of the chapel we had looked up. When we got on the street, we saw a chapel straight in front of us and headed for it. Whoopsies! There was a cross on the top of it so we knew that wasn't our church building. At the last minute, Jared saw the chapel on the left.


We almost drove right past it. If it didn't have the Church's name on the front, I wouldn't have guessed that was the building. I'm not used to seeing the unconventional chapels. It's definitely got character. Very San Diego-ish.

The ward members were very welcoming even with lots of visitors and tourists all year round. (My parents were some of them back in March). Turns out, a couple we house-sat for in Anchorage the year we got married are the missionaries assigned to this ward and the military ward. They were, unfortunately, not at the ward we were visiting that day. But my goodness...let's all break out in singing "It's a small world after all..."

I'm very grateful that Jared took the time to go to church...all three hours...before going to his mandatory CME classes later in the day. It would have been very easy for him to justify not going but I'm glad he did. He sacrificed some credits to do so.

As we were sitting in our pew, with nothing to do, we both commented on the weirdness of it. It was very odd to not be setting up a Relief Society room or making sure the Teachers have the bread and are preparing the Sacrament and attending the Young Men's prayer meeting, or herding and hushing children before the start of the meeting. This unbusyness was what it was like 12 years ago without kids. Though I wouldn't change our current situation for the world, it was fun and slightly unnerving to go back and experience church as a couple again. Actually, Jared found it easier to doze :)

On our way back from church, we saw the Cruise ship "Elation" had come into port. *sigh* Someday I would love to take a cruise. Maybe they're overrated, but I'd really like to find out for myself.


While Jared was in class, I took a stroll through the Gaslamp Quarter of Historic San Diego. I also needed to find a place to eat, by myself. I chose a Thai restaurant and got pad thai noodles and a banana bamboo drink(yummy). I didn't care for dining as one, but it proved to be for the best as I was able to outline my Relief Society lesson for the beginning of June while in my lonesome.


This picture is in honor of my friend Alison.


When Jared came back in the late afternoon we were ready to head out for dinner and then drive to Coronado Island.

We are big food network fans. We don't follow anything religiously but we enjoy "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" hosted by Guy Fiere to see fun places to eat or if we've been to any of the sites that are highlighted on the show. We found one in San Diego we wanted to try. El Indio. And here's the proof.


Here's a view from the Coronado bridge going away from San Diego. Our hotel is middle center.


This is the famous Hotel del Coronado. We walked on the beach behind it at sunset. (Fair warning: there are LOTS of pictures of just me and Jared on this trip.)








We have a really cool new camera and that we love and we were having waaaay too much fun taking our own pictures. That's how we got most of them on this trip as you will soon see.






We rounded out the night by trying the local Mondo Gelato. I've never had gelato before and not being much of an ice cream lover, I found it pretty tasty. I got lemon. It was very refreshing.

6 Days in Sunny San Diego, Day 1: Posh and Padres

(Back to the end of May...)

It was very important that my parents eventually made it back from Scotland. They did, of course, and with time to spare. They were "killing" time in Europe until they were very much needed here in Oregon on May 23rd. Jared's national PA convention was being held in San Diego, CA. This was also where we got married 12 years ago that very month. Since my parents weren't currently on a mission and were still in the contiguous 48 states (though they did postpone their arrival back at home in AK a month longer for us), Jared wanted to take me with him. It all fell into place very nicely and I still can't believe I actually got to go too!

My parents have been here at our house and with the kids for several lengths of time that they know their way around and the kids are very close and comfortable with them. My only worry about leaving was for my parents. Not that they couldn't handle 4 kids, but that they wouldn't be speaking to us when we got back. They assured us not to worry and as I smooched my kids goodbye early Saturday morning (2 sneaky tears crept out when I kissed Calvin), my mom's parting words were..."Just pretend it's 12 years ago, with no kids!" So we did!

Just being in a land with palm trees is so fun. There was a cool breeze. It wasn't as hot as I was hoping for because we were visiting during "Gray May" as it's called by the natives. But I quickly got over it.

We chose to stay at the Bayfront Hilton Hotel because A) it was right next to the convention center and Jared could walk to class. B) it was right near the water AND Petco Park where the Padres play. We rented a car so we could see as much of San Diego as we could when Jared wasn't in class.

Next time, we're staying at the Best Western or Motel 6 or something of the like in town. Our hotel of choice was at the least, extravagant. "Swanky" is the term Jared used, I believe. Not only was it $200+ a night, but they charged an additional $21 a DAY for parking. And the running track that they touted on their website doesn't actually exist. And in order to use their gym with 2 treadmills, 2 steppers, 1 bike and some weights, it cost an additional $15 a DAY to use. What a rip. Good freakin' night. About that...the room wasn't anything spectacular either, unless you're moved by the granite counter tops and hidden safe. We requested a king bed back in January but I'm sure because we were there just for the PA convention, there were only 2 queens available. There was no microwave and no refrigerator, which totally stinks! I could have eaten cereal for breakfast every day and we could have had popcorn at night for a snack. Best Western, Motel 6, all those chains at least give you a fridge and microwave and more often than not, a continental breakfast at 1/5 the price! What a waste of money. So we pretty much paid (ahem, actually Jared's CME money paid) for the VIEW of the bay and the bed. I have to say, that bed was heavenly. I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.

Here's a view from the end of our hallway. Bottom/middle left is one end of the Convention Center where all of Jared's classes were. And upper/middle right is Petco Park...the baseball stadium...home of the Padres.


Here's our eye-rolling, posh, over-the-top, ritzy hotel. I meant to take pictures of the inside and forgot. Probably because I felt completely out of my element and was hurrying back to the room as quickly as possible.


Jared went to a couple classes for the last few hours of the day while I stayed and unpacked. That night, we met up with our friend Shanelle (Jared's classmate from PA school) and Molly, the other PA in Jared's office for the Padre's game against the Chicago Cubs.




One of the best things about these games is the stadium food. Here's Jared eating his pulled pork sandwich. I swear, you can dress him up but you can't take him out. They should name it the "sloppy piggy." The sandwich, not Jared!


The game had some fun excitement when a brawl broke out about 8-10 rows below us. Jared was convinced it was the Cub fans. Having lived with them, I think Jared would know. I have no doubt alcohol played a big part in it as well. It took awhile for the stadium police/security to get there, but several people were escorted away in cuffs. And the Padres won the game.

Here are the physician assistants: (left to right) Molly, Jared, and Shanelle.


Here's the wifey tag-along and proud of it!

A New Record

Today we set a not-so-fun new record in the Portland area....NINE DAYS of temperatures 90 degrees or higher. It is currently 94 degrees at 7:45pm. It's 89 degrees inside our house. The experts say we're on our way to a cooling trend. I'll be doing cartwheels (or at least trying to) when the temperatures get to 85 degrees. That used to be my "hot." I am most definitely a heat weenie. I didn't like it when I lived in Georgia either.

The humidity involved in this heat wave has been the real kicker. Both Karcyn and Calvin have had heat rash all week too. We've all been wearing the minimum clothing possible. I think I used the stove only twice this week...once for pasta salad early Monday morning and then Thursday to make dinner for some friends. Oh and dinner tonight, but that's it. No one's really hungry when you're sweltering. The fortunate thing is that all the kids are sleeping through the night. That's truly a blessing.

This picture of Karcyn was taken last Monday when the temperature got up to 103 (although I think it was hotter here than at the airport). That is NOT water soaking her head and shirt. It is SWEAT. That's for perspective.