No, there is too much, let me sum up

Since last I left you, life has been a whirlwind. From Aspen Grove we went to San Francisco, where Uchenna had a conference and I bummed around; then our friends, with their two boys (ages 5 and 2), came for a week; then we started the process of preparing our house to sell; then we started house hunting; and then . . . . (deeeep breath). Shwew!

But first, San Francisco.

(in front of Golden Gate Bridge--with our very necessary warm sweatshirts)

We were sure glad we'd bought sweatshirts in Utah, because California was even colder than the mountains had been--in a wet, misty sort of way. That, along with the terrible cough I picked up in Utah, kept me from doing as much as I wanted. But I'm sure I went out more than maybe I should have.

(the view out our window--with Pier One, and the Bay Bridge on the right)

The hotel--the Hyatt Regency--was pretty fabulous, with monumental architecture right behind Pier One. Also, I loved the little street-car train. We took it up to Fisherman's Wharf area almost every day.

(the inside of the hotel, rising 17 stories)

One time I tried going in the other direction, out to Golden Gate Park, but I accidentally got on a bus instead and ended up in a place I don't think I was supposed to be. It was okay--I had a transfer, so I got off and took the next bus back. But I never did get out to Golden Gate Park.

(looking down on the green street-car train we often took; I don't know the point of the owl)

We ate in China Town and at Pier 39, with the week's menu full of fish. Even at the big banquet, which was my part of the Conference, we chose the salmon. The banquet was multiple courses and pretty amazing, and who knew a bunch of chemical engineers could be so funny. We also bought chocolate at Ghirardelli Square, supposedly as gifts for friends back in Ponca City. But I ate most of it, so there was only enough left to give as a thank-you to the family that mowed our lawn while we were away.

Of course we rode the cable car--although Uchenna wasn't quite as taken with the iconic experience as I thought he should be.

(Uchenna after our ride in the cable car)

And we took pictures in front of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. So I think we got the SanFran experience. Next time we're out there, we'll actually go across the bridge and we'll take the boat to The Rock.

(A blustery day at the beach, with Alcatraz behind us, just before the wind blew off my hat)