1. As we were packing out of our house in Virginia, I put all of our bags we were traveling with out in the sun room so they wouldn't be packed away. All, that is, except one. It was our garment bag, with all of our clothes for Sunday, including three new suits I had just bought so I would have something to wear when I showed up at work (my training in Virginia had not required a suit). After the packers left, we realized our mistake and so upon arriving in San Diego, we all went out to the store to get new clothes for Sunday (and some new suits).
As a somewhat funny postscript, when we landed in Houston, all of our bags came in except for the garment bag I had just purchased (which had the three newest suits). I feared I would have to go suit-shopping once again, but fortunately the bag turned up and was delivered to our house.
with Grandma Walker
2. One of the highlights of the trip was a surprise 50th birthday party for Grandma Bev (Grandma Bev's mother is pictured above). This involved a lot of deception on the part of many people. We claimed we were going surfing one morning, when we really went to go set up the party. Others claimed they needed some lamps in the attic for a party they were having, when it was really for The party. Many people felt bad since they were not in the habit of lying to Grandma Bev. Part of the surprise was that the party was 5 weeks before her actual birthday. She never saw it coming. It was a smashing success.
Lake Poway
3. We went to a Padres game on one of our first days there. There was not much interest for the following reasons: 1. it was an afternoon game in the middle of the week (which worked well since we had a 3 hour jet lag), 2. it was a cold, windy day, 3. it was April, and few people pay attention to baseball in April after the opening day and 4. it was the Padres playing, and the Padres are pretty terrible. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our seats right behind home plate (many levels up), even though the Padres were down 2-0 in the 8th inning. Towards the end of the game, we took to wandering around the empty seats in an attempt to warm up. But in the 8th and 9th, the Padres climbed back in, winning with a dramatic bases-loaded, 2 out, walk-off single to win the game. Thrilling!
4. With the arrival of many guests at the Monroe house for the surprise birthday party, space was at a premium. Since the boys love to camp, I volunteered to sleep out in a tent in the backyard with them. I did forget that it gets very cold at night in San Diego in April - in the 50s. But we were snug. However, we didn't work well as security. On the Saturday night before Easter Sunday, some disgruntled youth decided to toilet paper the front yard. We didn't hear them at all. It was reportedly the first time the Monroes had been papered in bad faith (they had received many friendly paperings).
5. Other fun activities for which we did not bring the camera: surfing at the beach (Jeffrey surfed, I picked up my new suits and lunch at In-N-Out), Easter egg hunt (great consternation at the end until we realized Uncle Mike had forgotten to hide 2/3 of the real eggs), Grandpa Walker building wooden swords for the boys, dinner at Claim Jumpers and many other fun activities. Thank you San Diego for a great two weeks!
