Vacation 2024

The pictures loaded in reverse order. So we'll go backwards.

As a bonus of doing a bunch of somewhat complicated one-way flights, the kids and I were able to fly direct without layovers to all the destinations. (When Aaron flew alone, he did have a layover).

The last day in Minnesota:

We flew Sun Country, which, for unknown reasons, uses the international terminal at SFO. My dad parked in domestic (which was fine), but didn't take careful note of where his car was. Because it's the international terminal, it has its own domestic baggage carousel, which is well hidden in the bowels of the building.  I was trying to describe where we were, but Dad was getting more turned around. It didn't help that it was after midnight, and the airport was relatively empty. Eventually, he found a cop who directed him to us, just as the suitcases were finally coming out.  Then we had to try to find the car. And oh, was it an adventure. A helpful janitor told us to take the airtram. We did that an eventually arrived at domestic parking. Dad insisted he parked in 2L14. The letters only went to G, and we were in the 30s.  I assumed he meant second level 14. (There are 5 levels). So I was hoping for the best, as it was now nearing 1am and Aaron was losing his cool. We wandered towards the lower numbers (and letters) and Dad started clicking the horn button. Lo and behold, there was the car in 2nd level C14.

Bron wasn't feeling 100%. And was asleep.

We changed gates THREE times before finally boarding, an hour late.

Bron, asleep at 7pm

Earlier that day, we went bowling. It was Bron's first time, and Bert couldn't remember the last time he went (Bron was a baby). Bert did great. Bronwyn rolled 2 frames, then gave up. We let them play arcades while we finished, but Bron had a meltdown.

Before the bowling fiasco, the kids caught frogs with Bufu

Day 3 MN

We played mini golf

Rocks near Minnehaha Falls

Us, at Minnehaha Falls

Day 2 MN (the Children's museum)

Both kids had a good time.

Day 1 MN

(Trish and Rob's house, Mall of America)

We were hoping to spend time wandering the Mall of America.  (Aaron and I had been there before having kids). We thought the kids would like it. But once they went to the Lego store (our first stop), they had enough MoA. So it was a short trip, fortunately, it's only 20 minutes from Rob and Trish's house.

Lego store at MoA

Lego store

Playing pool was a favourite for Bron.

Last day VA

Watching sparklers

Trying to take a decent picture with the grandkids. It didn't go great.

At girls day out

Aaron and nephew at Rebecca's pool

The kids at Mrs. Howard's pool

We found a frog in the filter

Science museum 

Outside the science museum 

At Kid Empire

One of the days before Aaron arrived we went to the zoo. Bert was a grump for 70% of the day, but perked up at the end. Bron had a great time, but was afraid to feed the animals.

The Zoo.

Ill-fated Richmond Children's museum trip.  Bron was upset almost from the outset. I'm not sure what set her off. It was loud, but she had her head phones. But it wasn't what she expected. Even the splash pad couldn't tempt her. So we left. And waited int he car for Nana and Bert.

The day of the nuclear meltdown. 

It started off great. We played mini-golf with Nana. It was hot when we finished, so we got treats from Sonic.  Then we drove over to the trampoline park. While we were there Bronwyn stated to get upset because there were "no kids to play with". There weren't a ton of kids, but enough. I told her to ask to play with the one's that were there. When the jumping time was up, both kids wanted to play air hockey. It was only $2, so I said they could play 2 games.  Bert won the first, which was fine. The second game was tied at 4-4, before Bert made the winning shot.  (In my mind, I was telling him to let her win, I should have said it in real life too). That was the end of the fun times. She was screaming, crying, hitting, kicking.  "I should have won! He shouldn't have won! It's not fair!" All the way back to the car, through the drive thru. Once, she was nearly calm, Bert tried to be helpful and told her she played well and it was a close game. That set her off all over again. She took a long nap that afternoon.

Leaving San Francisco 

College interruptus

 A couple days ago I had my counseling call with the online School of Public Health at SJSU. I need three specific lower GE classes before I can apply to the program. To save money, she suggested I look at community colleges, that those classes, then apply for the program. I figured this would be easy, since we have about 5 local community colleges. The issue is none of them offer any of those classes. 

My next option would be to take them at SJSU, which would cost a lot more, and there is more hassle of having to work within CSU system deadlines. I looked into applying last night, but all registration is closed until Aug 1st. So I have to wait.

Another issue, is that, looking though the required courses for a BS in PH is that (through the regular part of the university) VERY few of the needed classes are available online. So I would need to commute to school (which isn't far, but parking is usually an issue) or take the light rail, which is fine but gives me less freedom. 

I'm not sure it would be useful to take 3 classes, then have to apply for another program, so I can do it online.  Or, if I should just do it all (of the majority of it) on campus.  I'm leaning towards the traditional way, and hoping the classes can fit into my schedule with the kids.

It all feels overwhelming and stressful. If only I weren't 18 when I did this the first time, and had some perspective. I could have chosen one major and stuck with it. In reality, I probably should have gone to community college. The reason I didn't: we had a big assembly my senior year of high school on the importance of going to a 4-year institution. Because you were way less likely to get an actual degree of you went to community college. It was like a scare tactic (which worked). But jokes on them, I went to a 4-year, for 4 years and have 116 miscellaneous credits to show for it. At least if I'd gone to community college I'd have an AA, AS, or some certification.

After all this, I get stuck in a spiral of, do I even want to do this? Am I just bored? Wouldn't I rather my time be my own? 

And even though no one has ever said anything about it, I feel a lot of shame that I don't have a college degree. I did everything right in high school to put myself in place for a good education. I was accepted to excellent schools. And in the end, let my anxiety win by choosing the (less excellent, but fine) school in town.  (I was worried I would hate being away from home, not make any friends, or of hating my roommate, and the college scene in general (I don't like to drink, or party).)

Anyway, just feeling blue, stuck, and a bit hopeless.

Something crazy

 I'm thinking about doing something. Something out of character, and crazy. (Well, I think it's crazy). That is, I'm thinking about going back to school.

It's been on my mind, off and on, since I left in 2005 without a degree. I went through a few majors and ran out of time before grown up life (ie getting married) took me away from academia. I went in as a Biochemical Engineering major (haha, what was I thinking). Then as a Biology major (which I loved, but you also HAD to minor in Chemistry, which was not something I could grasp. I barely passed my intro course with a C). So I had to change, and went with my passion, which was Art. The problem with Art (aside from it having very little real world practicality), is that the majority of classes are studio classes, which take up huge blocks of time, and therefore, you can only take a couple each semester. If I were to return to art as a part-time student it would take ages to graduate. I could likely take one class a semester.

So I won't be returning as an Art major.

No. I want to do something useful. Something interesting. Something, that despite the fact that I'll likely be almost 50 when I finish, I could have a career, not just a job.

I was to major in Public Health.

I want to be a helper. I want to improve the community, and educate those within it.  

Aaron sent me a chart of the 10 sectors of public health. I'm not interested in the Policy sectors. (At least, I don't think I am. I don't know what I don't know).

I'll likely return to San Jose State. They have either a hybrid or all online program. I'm leaning toward the online program. The tuition is the same (as far as I can tell), and it'll be easier for me to schedule around the kids. I'll probably start out as part time, so I can ease back into it.

If I'm feeling really crazy, maybe I'll look into an MPH (Masters of Public Health).  But first things first.

The one problem I'm running into is the end result: working. I haven't worked full-time in over 10 years. I haven't worked part-time in over 7 years. I generally enjoy not having a "real job". I like taking care of the house, and making the kids a priority. Plus the fact that the majority of the Mental Load belongs to me isn't a huge burden, because that is essentially my only job. If I work outside the home, especially full time, the house is not going to be as put together and that makes me anxious. Plus, I'll then have the Mental Load of home and work. This is a concern.

But these are not concerns for now. I don't have to work, and I don't have to be full-time.

I got a copy of my transcripts. I have 116 credits. Most programs are 120 credits. But I have no idea how many will transfer to Public Health. (And hopefully they're still good, 20 years later). I have a phone appointment with an enrollment advisor in the end of June, which is where I'll start. I also sent in an info request to San Diego State University. They also have an online PH program, which a few more concentrations. And the cost would be the same. The only issue is they aren't local, so any issues would have to be dealt with by phone and email.  I looked at a couple other schools, but out of state tuition is killer. (I didn't realize it was a thing with online programs, but it is).

That's what I've been thinking about. I am full of trepidation and anxiety. But the thought of actually earning a degree is thrilling.

Dreaming the dream

 I've been watching a lot of House Hunters lately. So I've been thinking about what my dream home would look like. 

Our current home is a small one story 2.5 bedroom/2 bath house. My two least favourite things are that you have to walk through Bronwyn's room to get to the master, and that there is no laundry room, it's in the garage.  I really like our kitchen. I like the we have a (small) walk in closet.

My dream home would be as follows.

A 2 story 2500-3000 sq ft with lots of windows. The garage, if it had one, would be set behind the house. Downstairs would have a living and family room. I love the idea of two living spaces, since we just have one, and it's fairly small. I don't care for a fireplace. I'd like a bay window with a seat in it. The kitchen would be large, and eat in. Stone, or concrete counter tops, and cabinets that are white, or some colour, but not bare wood.  I want hardwood, or hardwood-looking floors throughout, no carpet.  I would have a spacious laundry room, with a space to flat dry sweaters, fold clothes and a rack, for hanging things. Plus, room to iron. Down stairs could have a half bath. I'd also like an office/library on the first floor.  Upstairs would have 4-5 bedrooms. And 3 full baths. I would want jack and Jill bathrooms between the secondary bedrooms, so every room is sort of an en suite.  The secondary bedrooms would have big closets with sliding or accordion doors (I hate closet doors that swing out). The master doesn't have to be huge, but needs to accommodate a King bed. My dream bathroom is a little particular. I saw once, in an older house, his and hers vanities and toilets. And they met in the middle with a shower.  I like that, each with its own little water closet. And both toilets would have a Toto Washlet attached. I'd like a big soaking tub, and a shower with at least two heads.

Things I don't really care about: the style of the house. I like modern and mid century modern, but all the styles have their pluses. I don't care about the yard much, big, small, whatever. Just at least a little space for the dog to go out. Though, ideally, there would be room for an ADU, for my sister to live in. I don't care if there is a garage, as long as there is space for storage in the house. 

So, yeah. Someday, when it's raining money, I'm going to get right on designing that.