Journey Down the Block

We are remodeling our offices at work. At the present moment we have no restroom. The whole remodel has been a challenge to work in. We've had to deal with hammering, sawing, jackhammers, dust, dirt. I thought the bathroom being gone was going to be the biggest problem, but maybe not. As I've written about before, everyone deals with the construction and change in a different way.





We have several choices at this point for using a restroom. We can use the porta-potty with the construction workers, go across the street to Mac Dutra Park where the day laborers hang out or take a walk about a block away to a restroom in a small shopping center, you could also take a quick drive home if you live close enough or drive over to Starbucks or McDonalds. I have chosen to walk the block away.

So you're probably asking why I'm blogging about walking to the restroom everyday. I thought I would take the opportunity to make it a positive experience. I brought my camera and decided to look through my lens on my way there every day and see what I come up with. I walk by the familiar every day, but people come to this town as a destination. I thought I would record some of the details and find the beauty and uniqueness of downtown Half Moon Bay on my journey down the block to the restroom.

I hoping to post several times a week with what I find on my walks.

First Day of School

On Monday I was able to fill in for our photographer at the Half Moon Bay Review and take the photos for a story about the first day of school. The reporter and I followed a kindergartner from getting up at his house through recess at his school. Since my youngest turned 20 on Sunday it certainly brought up a lot of memories for me. It seems just like yesterday that I was dropping my kids off at kindergarten and crying over them being so grown-up and going off into the world of school with their new clothes and lunch box in their hand.

The future is now for my children. One is 24 and in the Navy, the other is 20 and going to college. It's just as hard now watching them struggle with life decisions as it was when they started off in kindergarten and you wanted to teach them everything there is to know about life at the same time wanting to protect them. I don't know where the time goes and why it has to go by so fast, but it does. As much as you want them to stay young and cute and protect them at every turn, you also want to seem them soar on their own. That's the hardest part, watching and letting them make mistakes.

As for the kindergartner that I shadowed on Monday in the story, his mom informed us that he was very proud of the story in the newspaper. But on the second day of school he woke up and announced, "Today I don't think I can make it." Don't we all feel that way some days?

Favorite Golden Gate Renaissance Faire Photo

This is my favorite photo from the Golden gate Renaissance Faire on August 17, 2008. They all looked like they were having such a fun time!

Golden Gate Renaissance Faire

I went to the Golden Gate Renaissance Faire in San Francisco on Sunday. Picked up lots of ideas for my sons renaissance themed wedding in Ocotober. Found lots of accessories for the costumes and was entertained by the many guilds that were there. I posted the photos on my photo website and received an email from Frau Minna of the St Max Guild as I had captured their guild with a couple of my photos. They will be posting them on their website.

The Show

My first home show was quite successful. I really liked how everything came together.

Cowell Ranch Beach, Half Moon Bay

Today we took a walk on this fabulous beach. It's a bit of a hike to get there, but so worth the effort. We collected some tiny pebbles of sea glass. They are tiny jewels. The finish on the sea glass here is different than other beaches, highly polished and smooth instead of a rough patina. Usually you only find tiny ones there this time of year. We also saw a sea lion in the surf real near the beach. She followed us all the way from one end of the beach to the other. If we'd stop, she'd stop. If we walked the other direction, she followed us. I've never seen anything like it. She was watching us the whole time. Amazing! I think we were down there for about three hours. Finally had to leave because we were hungry. But I collected sea glass, driftwood, took photos and played with a sea lion!