Hi there. I've been off line for a month, feeling withdrawal symptoms. My computer means a lot to me, contact with the world, and all that. My 8 year old laptop finally got hard drive heart attack and died. With the assistance of my son-in-law, I located a new computer that had all the features I need....at a price that was 1/4th of my first computer. My! how technology changes and gets cheaper.
I'll save you all the techno stuff. Actually, I don't understand it all, but I know who to call.
While my laptop was in the hospital, I was on vacation with my girlfriend, Judy. Her mother lives in San Francisco, so Judy and I flew from Connecticut to San Francisco. This was my second trip there. The first trip was so busy, We never got to see a single museum. Museums were high on the priority list this trip.
Judy loves to go first class. I like to keep my money in my pocket, but she persuaded me to go for a luxury trip. We were drives to the airport by a chauffer, sat on the leather seats of a Lincoln towncar. I can get used to that.
We stayed at a bed and breakfast in the city. the Bishop's Mansion was all antiques, polished wood and small luxuries, like supplied bathrobes in the bathroom and a wine and cheese reception every afternoon. The reception was a wonderful way to get to know the other guests.
We had a fire in the fire place in our suite, classic music playing on a good radio as We arrived and a basket of soda and snacks. I can get used to this.
Japan Town cost me a bundle. As an art lover, I could not resist a shop selling Japanese Woodblock prints. Some of them were over a hundred years old. Others were contemporary. I bought four and doubled the cost of my trip. I am not sorry. The prints are lovely.
Hate to bore you. I had tea in the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park, saw buffalo and harbor seals, ate gourmet meals, got an escorted tour of the Castro district and the Mission Delores. I think San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the entire United States.
The second half of my trip was in Napa Valley, where Judy's Mom lives in an assisted living center. We toured a winery, stayed at 2 more bed and breakfast places under the Four Sisters Inns. Add to the luxury of the first b&b: a pool and hot tub, bicycles for free , newspapers and more wine and cheese. (sigh) In the area: an Art Preserve. I liked it better than the Museum Of Modern Art in S. F. We stayed in Yountville, famous for having the best restaurant in the entire US. Of course I could not get reservations. The restaurant is called the French Laundry.
I am absolutely furious with the airlines. Do they think all that screening they make passengers go through will screen for terrorists? I am a believer in profiling. If all the terrorists are arabic men between the ages of 16 and 45, why are they searching women age 68? If I was a terrorist, I would go to the nearest uniform shop and buy some navy blue clothes, sew braid on it and , pulling luggage, walk in the back door. Last trip I was offended by a woman screener, poking me in my bra to see if I was wearing an underwire (metal, of course) This time, I was made to take off my sandles and forced to stand on their filthy floor in my bare feet. It will be a long time before I feel like flying again.
Outside of the security screening, the trip was wonderful. Judy is a good travel companion. Having a companion cuts the cost of travel in half. However, next time, I drive to a near-by city for a tour and exploration.
Now to finish setting up my new computer and reading the over 100 e-mails that piled up while I was away.
Cheers.