California

A quick trip to California for Bella’s birthday party, flying Alaskan Airlines nonstop out Thursday evening and the red eye home Sunday night. Travel is getting back to normal with some people still wearing masks, most not. I’m just hoping the kid in the seat behind me who threw up was airsick, not contagious. Too late to do anything. On the other hand, if being around 6 kindergartners and their younger siblings Saturday afternoon didn’t do us in, I’d say our immune systems are working fine. 

For the party, Mary made mini cupcakes which I frosted. The kids decorated them with sprinkles as a party activity. She also had small white paper bags which they colored on and stuck on stickers for their take-home goody bag. In it, we tucked a paintbrush and their plastic pallet which had held their sprinkles. She’d decided no candy since everyone had so much left from Halloween. 

Ryan had planted big bubble wands in a couple of large pots of dirt so they didn’t dump over and lose all their soap. That lasted about 10 minutes, until a toddle pulled them all out and began using one as a sword.  Everyone seemed to have fun, playing on the swing set, blowing bubbles, coloring, and eating cupcakes. After 3 hours, they left, we cleaned up, and I went to bed at 7:30. Didn’t get up until 12 hours later when I went for my run. I was worn out. 


Remi and I saw a black phoebe land on the bird feed and pick weevils out of the seed. He is on task to let me know if he sees it again. A hummingbird was enjoying the orange flowers by the fence. Mary and I deemed it a male Allen’s. Seemed more streamlined than the rufous I’d seen on previous trips. 

I slept on the flight home. As always, we were a little disoriented when we got back to Orlando. I can’t decide if the annual change from daylight saving time that morning made it better or worse. We drove to our house and met friends Launa and Kyle who’d spent the night there after taking Autotrain down from the north. Breakfast at Keke’s, then they left for Bonita Springs, and I resisted the urge to go to bed. I did nap that afternoon.

Grant introduced Bella to NetHack.

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