Dick's babysitting musings

Friday, February 26:

Bev and I have sublet our sabbatical to Courtney and Steve, so they can enjoy some time off together in Costa Rica for the next six days, while we watch the boys. Here are a few observations:

--Disposable diapers, like ski equipment, have gotten much better than they were in the 70's. But the dirty ones smell the same.

--I don't understand the world of matchbox cars. Alex and Gabe each have a couple plastic baskets of about 50 cars each. They know which ones belong to whom, which cars are the "fastest," which ones are "locked" (still haven't figured out what that means) and generally, they have this entire matchbox car culture that is beyond me.

--Kids fall in love with slapstick humor at a very young age. Pushing 13-month-old Sutton on a swing from the front yesterday, each time he swung forward I was "standing in the way" and he would "knock" me back a few exaggerated steps. It was hilarious! Funniest thing he'd ever seen! Good thing he was wearing a diaper! And it NEVER got old! At least I don't have to worry about coming up with new material!

I've entered a brave new world of children that seems strangely familiar. I don't remember it being so tiring, though...

Snowy Surprise in Austin

The weather gods have punished me for gloating over the nice weather down here while so many of you back home are shivering in below zero temps. We woke up Tuesday morning to freezing rain which quickly turned into snow. And it kept coming throughout the day. There was actually enough accumulation for the kids to play in. Schools closed early and as soon as kids were home, the neighbors were all out with kids, cameras in hand, to record this momentous occasion. Being the one with real experience in such matters, Grandpa Casey was out there giving pointers on the fine art of snowman building, snowflake catching and I think he even got in on a snowball "fight." Alex and Gabe played outside til they were soaking wet and almost blue from the cold before they came in to thaw out with cocoa and marshmellows.

Monday, February 22

Today, we start our "grandparent duties" in earnest. Courtney and Steve are in between day care providers and we get to help out and spend some real time with the boys! Today, Dick helped Gabe work on his two-wheel biking skills. As he was running up and down the street, keeping up with Gabe on his little bike, Dick said he didn't remember it being so hard when he did it before! Go figure.

Guess I spoke too soon about the great weather here in Austin. Tomorrow, there is a winter storm warning, with a 60% chance of snow. Not that there will be much snow--but it doesn't take a lot to shut things down here in Texas.

Feb. 21st--Update on the last ten days

Have a lot of catching up to do so I guess I'll just try to pick up where I left off. We bid Kathy and Steve good-bye (it's easier to say good-bye knowing we will see them again in a month) on Friday morning, Feb 12 and made good time across Utah and Wyoming. Roads were good and there were no scenic byways to tempt us off our route as we traveled across vast expanses of "wide open spaces." As our friend, Rich Garry once said, "When these people leave town, they really leave town!" We made pretty good time and it's a good thing because the snow was really starting to come down and Mike was already out plowing snow when we reached Mike and Mary's cabin at Mountain Home, Wyoming. Mike and Mary did most of the work themselves on the cabin and it is beautiful and cozy--especially when it's snowing like crazy outside and a fire is roaring in the wood burning stove. After getting settled in, Dick and I had our first snowmobile rides as Mike and Mary took us to the nearby WyColo Lodge for dinner and to meet some friends. Again, I can't get over the beauty of the scenery here. Unfortunately, the remoteness of the area means no cell phone or internet access. We are so used to being connected to everyone all the time, but it is nice, in a way, to be "unconnected" for a bit.

The next morning it was still snowing as Mary and Mike got us outfitted to go snowmobiling. I was a little apprehensive when I realized that they had four snowmobiles and I was expected to drive one! I had only been on one once the night before and now they wanted me to drive one on my own!? But, their dog Molly loves to ride, so it must be good, right? And, part of my "anti-Alzheimer's agenda" is to learn to do new things, so I was game and it didn't take long before I was "hooked!" It was a little scary at times, but one of the most fun things I've ever done and I discovered a new part of me that I didn't know was there.

We snowmobiled again on Sunday, going on some of the most beautiful trails. We also went on some really bumpy ones which were great fun (arghhhhhhh!), but really tiring. I never realized how tired one could get riding a snowmobile. After a wonderful steak dinner, we cheered on the USA athletes in the Olympics before falling exhausted into bed for a good night's sleep. Thanks for great hospitality, Mike and Mary!

Monday, February 15: We headed east from Laramie to Rapid City where good friends, Ken and Kakie Dewell took us in for the night. We hadn't connected with them on our way West, so it was good to see them and have a chance to get caught up. Also gave Ken and Dick a chance to show their "Western" look.

On Tuesday morning, our friend and Native craft expert Dale Jahr helped us pick out some South Dakota gifts to take abroad. Then back on the road with a quick stop in Chamberlain to visit Terry and Sharon. We arrived home in Sioux Falls about 8 p.m. Seemed strange but really good to be back home again. We put on close to 5000 miles, had great times with good friends and family and feel very lucky to have had this opportunity, with good roads and weather for our travels.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent scurrying around to accomplish a long to-do list in a short amount of time. We swapped our ski things for warmer weather clothes and hopefully all that we need for our European travels-(I got the passports!) And Friday morning, we headed south in the Solara convertible bound for Austin, TX, and our kids and grandkids! Roads were not that great, so our travel was slowed somewhat. After an overnight in Emporia, Kansas, (Dick doesn't intend to return there anytime soon), we got into Austin on Saturday evening.

Sunday, was warm (seventies) and sunny in Austin. Dick and I went for a good hike in the afternoon and even drove with the top down. Ahhhhh-if I can't be skiing--this is my kind of winter!

Thursday, Feb. 11-If this isn't Paradise, it's really close by!

We have been in Utah for six glorious days and every morning when I wake up and look out the window at the sun shining on the mountains, I pinch myself to make sure I'm really awake! Kathy and Steve's house is amazing and they spoil us terribly. We arrived here on Saturday along with son, Ryan, and daughter, Molly and her boyfriend James. The "young 'uns" went skiing Saturday and Sunday and we joined them on Monday. We have skied more in the past few weeks than we have in the last 10 years and are feeling pretty good about ourselves for still being able to ski--just like riding a bike! Niece Erin Devitt was in town and was able to come out for a visit on Sunday. Nephew Mike Casey was also able to join us for a couple of days of skiing and relaxing. It was really good to see them and get caught up. Ryan wasn't able to return to Washington DC because of the weather out there and had to spend two extra days here. We were glad to have more time with him and he didn't mind having two extra days of skiing.
On Thursday, Kathy and Steve's son, Kevin, arrived from Florida with his three children for a long holiday weekend. So it was a grand family get-together!
Tomorrow, we take Ryan to the airport, bright and early, (don't know how bright we'll be, but it will be early) and then Dick and I head east to Laramie, Wyoming to see Dick's cousin, Mary. We've been talking about coming out to see Mary and Mike for years-can't believe we're finally getting to do it. Thanks to everyone who has put us up and put up with us on our travels. We love getting to see everyone, and it sure helps with the travel budget!

Friday, Feb. 5th-Whew!

As I write this we are thrilled to be at the Best Western in Wendover, UT! If that confuses you, let me explain. After a day of driving across the wide open spaces of Nevada, and believe me, they are seemingly endless, we ran into sketchy weather-rain-snow mix with fog--not what you want to drive in while on winding mountain roads in the dark. So, we changed plans and pulled into Wendover. Whew! Tomorrow we'll go the rest of the way to Salt Lake City in the light of day and on to Kathy and Steve's outside of Park City. If we don't post a blog for a while, don't worry. It will be because we're having so much fun.

Thursday, Feb. 4th What a day!

Ok, I'm on tilt! I've always said that if I can't be with my kids, a perfect day is a day involving downhill skiing, and all the apres ski activities that can follow. Today was such a day. Bev and I went to Northstar Ski Resort, near Truckee, CA, where we're staying. The snow was packed powder, and plenty of it. We skied about four hours on really nice, long intermediate runs. And get this: Neither of us fell! (Read: I didn't fall, and didn't suffer the bruises and sprains that kicked my butt at Schweitzer in Idaho). It was just a superbly enjoyable, easy day on the slopes overlooking Lake Tahoe. After we left Northstar, we drove down to the lake and checked it out. It started to snow and the forecast for tonight is a foot of the white stuff, so we skipped visiting Squaw Valley and came back to our motel at Truckee, showered and headed to Truckee to check it out. And then it happened--I fell in love with Truckee!

We had a fabulous Italian dinner at Pianeta. To die for. Made us that much more anxious to get to Italy in May! Then we went for a little walk after dinner and saw the "Tourist Club Bar" which advertises "Free Beer Tomorrow." Can't wait to get back there tomorrow! Er...

We were about to get in the SUV to head back to our room, when I suggested we go across the street to check out a place called "Moody's Bistro." I was just curious. Well, we walked in and there was a jazz trio of guys even older than me playing, so we had to have a coffee and after-dinner to listen to a song or two, right? Well,two sets and two hours later, we forced ourselves to leave, but only after meeting an OB-GYN doc in his late 60's from the Bay area who plays drums with a rock band he formed to play charity gigs, and a plaintiff's employment lawyer from the Bay area who was in town to celebrate his 50th birthday. Our doctor friend had a literal bag full of percussion shakers, etc. and he joined filled in with some great percussion. The trio was really good in their own right.

Truckee is this charming destination for people like these, many from the Bay area, who come here on weekends to ski, and come in the summer to golf or enjoy water sports. Who can blame them?!

While the band took a break, our doctor friend told about being at Moody's one night listening to music, when Paul McCartney and his then-wife, Heather Mills, came in and sat at the table next to ours (right in front of the band), and Paul joined the band to sing a few blues numbers. How crazy would that be!

We drove back to our room, to try to pack our things. Weather permitting, we will head for Salt Lake City tomorrow.

What a day!

Tuesday, February 2--On to Tahoe!

This is Dick blogging. Our "Really Big Chill" weekend in the beautiful and mellow Sea Ridge House was a rousing success. It was all I'd hoped it would be! But alas, all good things must come to an end. So after a day of rest and after a touch of GI flu yesterday, Bev and I said goodbye to Inverness, promising ourselves to return sooner rather than later! We drove to Richmond and visited Al Tabor at his office at Mountain Hardwear, and stopped at the MH store, where we drooled over and then proceeded to lower their inventory. We then had a great Thai lunch with Al before our three-hour trip to Truckee, CA. We're at a great place here--Truckee Tahoe. Charming place, in the middle of one ski area after another! It started snowing about the time we arrived about 5:30 tonight, and we hear the snow conditions are good. We plan to cross country ski tomorrow, then downhill on Thursday. We are kids in a candy store!

My goal is to get through the next two days of skiing without another crash and burn. My ribs are feeling quite a bit better. I think I'm ready for a little more punishment!

I've always said that I'm a fan of winter. But I can't believe how much nicer it is to enjoy winter where the snow is usually really good to ski on, the temps are not so stinkin' cold and the wind doesn't blow at 30+ mph! We've been monitoring the weather back home, and let me just say that I'm not willing to trade what we got here for what they got there!

Monday, February 1-Happy February

Dick and I both started out the day with a morning run. I ran into Inverness to pick up some Imodium and he...well, I think you can figure it out. Judy snuck out early this morning to catch a flight out of San Francisco-didn't even wake us up. We are such slugs anymore. It's been kind of a rainy day. We hung out for a while and finally got some reading done. Then went into Pt. Reyes Station, walked around and checked things out for a bit, and ended up at the Station Cafe for drinks and soup. Back to Sea Ridge House to get packed up so we can get an early (or maybe a not so late) start out to Tahoe. We will probably spend Wednesday and Thursday in the Tahoe area, then head for Salt Lake City on Friday. We're looking forward to some cross-country and downhill skiing at Tahoe, but we're really, really looking forward to getting to Dick's sister Kathy and husband Steve's great home in Promontory, UT where we'll hang out and ski with Ryan, Molly, her friend James and Dick's nephew, Mike Casey.

Sunday, January 31- Sea Ridge House at Inverness

People were a little slow to rise this morning after last night's frivolities-some more than others, but we're not mentioning any names. We are also pledged to secrecy about the "incident". I guess it's one of those, "what happens at Sea Ridge, stays at Sea Ridge" kind of things. Dick and Al took it upon themselves to run to the Bovine Bakery and provided wonderful pasteries for breakfast. Then, since all good things must end, so must our "Big Chill" weekend. Amid hugs and good-byes and promises to see each other at the upcoming class reunion in September, people started packing up and taking off. There was also talk of making this an annual get-together. Thanks to Al and Wendy and Griffin for sharing their get-away with all of us-so comfortable and relaxing. I have included some pictures of the grounds in this post and they do rent this property out, so if you might be coming out this way-check it out. Their website is http://www.searidgegetaways.com/ We highly recommend it!
Dick, Judy and I are the glee-some three-some left tonight. We just hung out and went to Point Reyes Station Cafe for dinner. A live jazz band provided music-it was a hoppin' happenin' place. But Judy leaves early in the morning and we are all feeling the effects of a fun weekend, so we head back to our cozy retreat and crawl in early.