Trip to NY

I usually don't enjoy flying, but I was lucky enough to jump on a corporate jet again for a Google trip to NY for a partner dinner and meeting. It's a nice way to travel -- swiveling leather seats, fun coworkers, full service, and lots of room to stretch. The pilots showed me the controls and computers on the plane (Gulfstream IV) and five hours has never gone quicker. The winds landing in NY tossed us around pretty well, but I figured it was good practice for a nervous flier.

Bubbles!

Sydney's Last Day

It's been a whole week, but seems even longer. I woke up Saturday night and turned to Gina saying "We need to put Sydney down." It was something about her manner: the way she followed us around but didn't want food or water, the way she barked in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. I made an appointment at the only place open in the area, some emergency vet clinic in Palo Alto. And that morning we went for a walk under the blossoming trees, one last time. Nate seemed so proud to carry the leash, and Julie gave her lots of hugs as usual. Gina dropped the kids off at her mom's, and we met at the clinic to put her down. What a hard thing to do. At the end, she was curled up on a pink blanket and she looked so peaceful. Thank you Sydney: for being a joyous presence during some of my toughest times, for saving the Petaluma house when the hot water pipe burst, for the walks, vacations, and endless tail wags. You are missed.

Capitola

It's been unseasonably warm, mid-70s, and perfect beach weather. Saturday we drove to Capitola just south of Santa Cruz to eat at the Train Place Deli again and play in the sand.

Caught in the act (literally)

We're enrolled!

We start in the Fall. And Beresford, a Montessori school, is only two blocks from our house.

Sea Ranch

Sea Ranch Feb 2007

With Sydney securely cared for at the Martins, we drove up to Sea Ranch to visit with Grandpa and Grandma for a few days. The house was wedged between other homes, but inside the view opened up to a large common area and outside large meadows and white water views. Nate and Julie were noticeably ecstatic to receive grandparent attention. Despite the relentless, shifting rain and hail, we had a wonderful time cooking, building fires, visiting Annapolis Winery, making "trains" with the pillows, and deer watching. Of course the sun broke out the day we left, but in true oceanside vacation fashion, we just felt like we'd do the exact same vacation tomorrow if we could.

Pre-Vacation Excitement