While many of us were gathering around the menorah or singing Christmas carols, some Arizona families sat bedside waiting and watching for hospitalized children to heal. It got me wondering what the role of the arts might be in the healing process. Did you know there are actually studies showing the health benefits of laughter? Maybe I should just take to the pediatric hospitals with my stick figure drawings and see if I can spread some cheer.

Happily, I got some better ideas while brainstorming with kids from the cast of Oliver! Saturday was my last day to wrangle (watch the kids when they’re not on stage), and they were gracious enough to help me with ideas for art projects children can do in the hospital. All agreed art projects are a great way to pass the time when you’re stuck at home sick or in the hospital for a spell.

Art projects are especially handy to have around when your child might be anxious waiting for a doctor to do his or her rounds, and when young friends or family members come to visit. Having materials to craft something wonderful together can ease that awkward silence that comes when we don’t know what to say to loved ones experiencing pain or suffering.

Pediatric specialists like Banner Health Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa and Phoenix Children’s Hospital already know that art is at the heart of healing. Their child life specialists work with children in several ways to assure they feel more comfortable with medical procedures and feel less stress while hospitalized and away from home, school and friends.

Child life specialists work with children both bedside and in hospital playrooms to assure that art is part of the healing process, according to Erin Sinnema, MSC, CCLS, certified child life specialist with Cardon Children’s Medical Center. The center also features a variety of support programs including humor therapy and music therapy. Especially for children, the expressive arts truly are at the heart of healing.

Sinnema says the center provides standard art materials like crayons, markers, paint and paper for many reasons. Because art is a universal language, it builds bridges between anxious patients and professionals who enter their world bearing familiar art materials.

A child who is used to drawing at home or in school will take comfort in being able to continue a familiar activity while isolated from familiar surroundings, reflects Sinnema. He or she may also feel a sense of satisfaction at being able to ‘give back’ by creating artwork for others. Most importantly, perhaps, art helps children express their feelings about the experience of being sick and separated from family and friends.

Child life specialists at Phoenix Children’s Hospital note that art is also an important resource for siblings of sick children. Brothers and sisters are welcome to send in artwork or photos to be displayed in their sibling’s hospital room, and sibs are also welcome to visit the child life playrooms (when healthy and accompanied by an adult).  Pediatric specialists recognize the role of the arts in treating the whole child and the whole family, and see firsthand the impact of art on health and hope.

If finding appropriate art materials for a hospitalized child or teen just isn’t your forte, plenty of folks—including the hospital’s child life specialists and your child’s teacher/s—can offer suggestions. Sometimes the simplest way to go is an art kit available from the hospital gift shop, or local businesses like bookstores, art supply stores or craft stores.

Many art museums—including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and others—have gift shops featuring kid-friendly arts and crafts projects. So do many of the Valley’s family-friendly destinations, such as the Desert Botanical Gardens and the Phoenix Zoo.

Creativity for Kids and Klutz are great online resources if you can’t get out for supplies.

A few guidelines as you’re making your selections…

Think neater rather than messier (a principle you don’t need to worry about at home). Think easy to transport, clean up after and store. Maybe you have a fun tote or plastic crate that can become the designated crafts center for your hospitalized child—something he or she knows will always be full of fun surprises. Think frugal. You’d be amazed what a child can do with simple and inexpensive materials like pipe cleaners or felt and a pair of scissors.

Consider not only your budget, but also your child’s age, motor skills and energy level. Your child’s own preferences, safety considerations and any hospital rules about what parents and other visitors can bring for patients should also influence what you choose.

Consider magazines like American Girl and FamilyFun that offer ideas, directions and/or templates for kid-friendly arts and crafts projects. If you’re not feeling particularly gifted in the arts, you can turn to online resources for project ideas and directions. When in doubt, give a simple sketch book with special pencils or pens. (This idea was especially popular among the boys in the Oliver! cast.)

At the bottom of this post you’ll find just a portion of the incredible list of ideas shared by girls from the Oliver! cast yesterday (the first time I wrangled, I interviewed more boys than girls, so this will balance the scales). I’ll see them later today for strike (theater term loosely translated as tearing a show down after that final performance), so I may have more ideas to add to the list this evening (or even tomorrow).

I’ll also share a few of our own family favorites (think thumbprints, multicolor ink pads and a Sharpie pen)–but first I’m off to whip up some goodies for the post-strike pot luck…

Until then, happy doodling!

–Lynn

*Fun hospital art projects…

• Drawing supplies: Sketch pads, paper, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, pencil sharpeners and “how to” drawing books (how to draw animals, etc.)
• Scrapbook making supplies: Blank scrapbook, miniature photo album or wire-bound unlined index cards with assorted papers, scissors, markers, glue sticks, etc. (fun scrapbook themes include family, friends, pets, dreams for the future)
• Fiber arts: Yarn for making yarn dolls, embroidery floss for making friendship bracelets, felt for making finger puppets, crochet/knitting needles with yarn for making a blanket to sleep with or put around a favorite stuffed animal
• Bookmark supplies: Bookmark templates for needlepoint with embroidery floss and needle or card stock bookmarks with stickers, stamped art, etc.
• Button art: Buttons with wire or fishing line for making bracelets or flexible dolls
• Card creations: Large unlined index cards or folded card stock with stickers and other embellishments to make thank you cards for hospital staff, friends who bring gifts, fellow patients, etc.
• Collage art: Heavy cardstock or flat canvas with glue or glue stick for attaching magazine cut outs, get well cards, torn pieces of tissue paper, etc. (hole punch at top and add yarn or ribbon to hang up in hospital room)
• Book-making supplies: Paper or card stock your child can staple into booklet form after writing a tall tale, a playful poem, etc.
• Magnetic toys: Flat screens with magnets you manipulate into various designs or 3-D magnetic toys for creating a myriad of unique sculptures
• Puppetry: Socks, paper lunch sacks or tall envelopes with fun face-making supplies like googly eyes, pom poms, felt, foam pieces, etc.
• Paper crafts: Origami paper (plain or with designs such as animal prints) with instruction booklet for paper folding or paper cutting (kirigami); Roll of gift wrap for making long paper doll chains
• Pom pom people: Furry little pom poms with glue, googly eyes and foam pieces for making people or animal faces with feet (foam core pieces make great people and animals too)
• Hanging art: Yarn or fishing line for hanging art or mobiles (think snowflakes, butterflies, sports equipment, cars and trucks, etc. (thick pipe cleaners or thin hangers make handy mobile frames)
• Puzzle art: Blank puzzle with markers for coloring custom design or heavy card stock with markers and scissors for drawing and cutting out a one-of-a-kind puzzle
• Stuff to fluff: Felt, embroidery floss and stuffing for making teddy bears; Napkins or fabric squares, stuffing and needle/thread for making special hospital pillow; Soft cloth with ribbon and scented beads or potpourri for a refreshing sachet or compress

*Special thanks to Adele, Alex, Barrette and Madeleine and all the other Oliver! cast members who contributed ideas to this list of art projects–you’re one bright and creative bunch! Their best ideas were sentimental ones that might be easiest to accomplish with kits–dreamcatchers for capturing wishes and worry dolls for releasing fears.

Coming soon: Creating an art-friendly home

Yesterday, my wife and I had an open day so we decided to drive to the beach.  With sunshine and 80 degree temps expected, it sounded like the perfect way to spend the day.

We packed a lunch, grabbed some beach towels and reading material, a radio (yes..I still listen to that thing), and headed out.  Our destination was loosely defined as “the beach” , which in SoCal, can be pretty vague.  We headed down the 101 from the San Fernando Valley and then toward the ocean on Las Virgenes Rd.  This would take us to the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) which in turn would give us lots of choices.

As we got to the fork in the road at the end of Los Virgenes, at the PCH we realized we needed to make a decision to go left or right, basically North or South (actually kind of East or West but that’s a whole confusing thing for non-natives).

To the left were beaches, to the right were beaches.  Why was this becoming stressful?  What’s so hard about picking a freaking beach on a beautiful day?  Just choose!  Now cars were starting to pile up behind us and the light changed to green.  Here, at the fork in the road, with only great choices ahead in either direction, I couldn’t decide.  has this ever happened to you?   Either literally or figuratively?

My wife, sensing my indecision, suggested an alternative.  We could instead, just go straight ahead into what looked like a ballpark and soccer field.  That would allow us time to decide where to go.  I quickly took the suggestion and pulled into what we learned is Malibu Bluffs Park.

That suggestion lead to what was easily, one of our best days at the “beach” that we’ve ever had.  We discovered some beautiful views of Malibu, the ocean, the coastline and more.  There were beautiful trails to explore, and even one that lead to a public access to the beach right between the multi-million dollar homes of the rich and famous.  We spent the afternoon exploring the park, the beach, and enjoying a quiet lunch amid the flora and fauna.  Not bad, not bad at all.

So sometimes, when you get to a fork  in the road, the answer might be to take neither. To keep going in the direction you’re going in all along. You may just be surprised at what you’ll to discover.

today was my first “official” day volunteering at the phoenix children’s hospital

i’m the coffee cart volunteer … i make carafes and carafes and carafes of coffee and then push the cart around to all of the nurses stations and rooms providing complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate to parents and staff … normally there are cookies too but we’re having a cookie shortage … so … anyone that would like to donate cookies, i’m here … but they cannot be homemade … infection control etc, etc … most ideal options are pre-packaged individual sized

big deal you might think … but i can’t imagine being stuck in the hospital stressed out about my child without some coffee

i have all access to the hospital … nicu, picu, the regular floors, behavioral (psych), emergency

i got to see the little tiny neonatal babies … the young kids in the picu in diapers with IVs … the teen floor was deserted, either there were none there or they were hiding out … the behavioral unit was sad, seeing a room that was empty, really empty, nothing they can use to hurt themselves or others, makes you realize young people have problems too

so while everyone is thankful and expressing their thankfulness because thanksgiving is coming up … just remember to be thankful in may when most kids, mine included, are out playing … but some kids aren’t able to do that

I gave myself an hour tonight.  I had no place to be, no person to see, and school has already taken a backseat for the quarter.  After coffee with a dear friend, I gave myself an hour.  I headed south on hwy 1.  It was around 18.45, and dark.  I was able to forget where I was, and pretend that I was 375 mi north, on the same highway.  Ignoring cruisers and streetlights, it actually felt like I was back.  Turning onto the 133 sent a quiver down my spine.  The same motions as the 152 headed to the foot of her greatness, I listened to a kitten’s “On The Road To Find Out.”  Should I be driving a VW right now? I’m not, I’m driving a 1973 2002 BMW, with white leather interior and hub caps that match the gelb color of its body.  I am conveniently wearing a scarf of fine craftsmanship, driving gloves to match.  I hear the wind pass through the oak trees that line the rolling hills in the valley.  Flashing lights ahead?  There’s no metropolis in Salinas Valley.  I fade back to reality, the 405 is in gridlock.  I downshift, sigh, roll up my windows.  I guess it’s time to switch to Autechre….

Steel Parade performs for the Heritage Park concert series every year. Fans had a great time dancing and playing around. One little boy was so preoccupied by the band, he decided to relieve his bladder in front of the stage. No time for a toilet when you got to dance!

The Facebook fan page for Steel Parade contains silly videos of the band.

Click here to go to the Steel Parade Facebook Fan Page

Here are a couple shots from birthday parties we played for this summer.

]]> http://100wordshortstories.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/the-beginning/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:53:31 +0000 dorothyrupert http://100wordshortstories.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/the-beginning/

Standing with her back to the hearth,  Jessica drained her wine glass then smashed it in the fire.  The crass gesture was deeply satisfying: a symbol of the end of her old life.  Tomorrow she would rent a convertible, and drive down PCH.  Lunch at the Ivy would be followed by an afternoon of shopping and a massage. An evening at the Beverly Hills Hotel would afford her the first good night’s sleep she’s had in months.  The following day she will play tourist and visit Grauman’s Chinese or maybe fly to Rio.  When you have money, all things are possible.

next time i should take a mini road trip on Pacific Coast Highway.

今度パシフィックコーストハイウェードライブぷち旅行でも行こうかしら。

nach einer recht kurzen nacht (um 5 uhr morgens waren wir klockenhell wach. war ja auch schon 14 uhr in Deutschland…) ging es dann auch gleich los mit unserem roadtrip. noch schnell den cooler ins auto gepackt, allen tschüß gesagt (waren natürlich alle wach… so soll’s sein;-)), ab auf die straße und … gestanden! morgenverkehr. dennoch kamen wir nach gut zwei stunden bei wundervollem wetter in Monterey, unserem ersten etappenziel, an. dort besuchten wir zuerst den örtlichen supermarkt, um unseren cooler zu füllen. wir kamen natürlich nicht am süßigkeiten-regal vorbei, ohne zuzugreifen… aber dafür gabs auch bananen…:) und weiter gings zum Bay Aquarium. ein sensationelles ding! wir waren beide völlig begeistert. vor allem vom konzept, welches kinder ganz bewußt und aktiv miteinbezieht. z.b. ein streichelzoo für kinder im aquarium…wo gibts denn sowas? also ein muss, wenn man mal da in der ecke ist!! weiter ging es dann noch die bekannte Cannery Row hoch und runter. diese fällt dann aber doch deutlich ab gegenüber dem aquarium. aber nichts desto trotz sehenswert. nun stand die entscheidung an, ob wir den berühmten 17 mile drive am Pebbles beach fahren oder den kostenlosen Ocean drive. 2:0 für Ocean drive. also ab ins auto und rauf auf die piste. und es war wahnsinn. eine echt schöne küste. leider hatte der leuchtturm geschlossen… ja und was die küste anbelangt wurde es ja nur noch besser. auf dem weg nach süden entlang dem highway #1 kamen wir zuerst nach carmel-by-the-sea. einem verschlafenen kleinen nest mit wunderschönem strand. nachdem wir uns den sand aus den schuhen geklopft hatten, ging es weiter. und unter vielen ahs, ohs und stopps zum fotografieren ging es weiter richtung süden. auch die cd, die ich karin geschenkt hatte, kam zum einsatz. zwar nicht als cd im player (in den fortschrittlichen USA kann der cd-player keine mp3 lesen..tzzz), sondern über den ipod. aber toll war es! den wind im haar, die küste entlang. leider verging die zeit wie im flug und leider flogen auch ein paar abfahrten relativ unbemerkt an uns vorbei, sodass wir nicht alles sahen, was wir eigentlich wollten…aber den ersten sonnenuntergang konnten wir dann doch noch an einem vista point genießen. so kamen wir dann schließlich schon im dunkeln an unserem ersten etappenziel Pismo Beach an. völlig geschafft und zufrieden fielen wir in die betten und schliefen ohne abendessen ein.

lahko noc!

TUESDAY, 9/29

Day 27.

I planned my week yesterday. That was a godsend. I also went power walking early this morning and of course, listened to Tony Robbins. Something different happened today when I was visualizing my life though.

I really got into it. I let myself feel the energy of what it would be like to be working at a studio on a television show as a series regular. I let myself feel what it would be like to live in a beautiful home on the beach and I saw the deep brown wood electronic gate with rot iron bolts open up for me to pull out onto PCH in my sleek black Honda CRV (you can’t get a more economical car). I saw my three children still sleeping in bed as I kissed them goodbye in their beautiful bedrooms and their dad awake coming from his workout in our home gym. I saw Gertrude, my chef, Franklin, my grounds keeper, April, my children’s nanny (she’s mixed race like me) and my yoga instructor, Poppy who was leaving after our session this morning.

It was lovely. I saw me pulling into the studio lot waving a warm hello to Malcolm the gatekeeper who tipped his hat to me. And then the execs of my show.  We are all in a meeting with the writer’s and my fellow cast members discussing our next episode. All of this by 7:30am. I have meetings with my publicist, my publisher, my agent and my manager. My assistant, Carol is by my side always making sure I am on top of my schedule.

I take a call from Rich at one of my breaks on the set and we laugh about something Mika (our daughter) did this morning while he took them to school. We discuss the dinner party we’re having tonight too with our friends who are doctors, fellow successful actors, musicians and Rich’s coaching partner (a man).  My favorite young piano player is coming over too to play for the night.

I love the character I play. She is strong, witty, loving and complicated when it comes to her expressing her feelings. I can relate to her and so appreciate the writing that goes into the show. We’re in our second season and we all know we’ve got a great thing going on.

I leave the lot around 2pm after taping 2 episodes today. I go to my kids school and wait in the car with Carol for them to come outside. They are two beautiful girls with a handsome young man sandwiched in between them. He loves his dad more than I can express with words. He actually thinks he’s funny. That in itself brings me joy.

The three of them throw their backpacks into the trunk of the CRV and Carol and I wrangle them in to put on their seatbelts. Rich is off giving a talk today to one of his major clients. He loves what he does. We laid in bed the night before discussing how excited he was and how he knew how much value he was bringing to the organization. He’s also been in talks with Oprah and her people about coming on the show regularly to share what he does and promote his new book, Success is what YOU make of it. I inspired the title.

We make our way home and the kids tell me all about their day.  They beg Carol to stay over after she finishes work with mommy today to play with them. She says of course and smiles brightly at me. Once we’re home, April greets us with open arms and the kids run to meet her. Gertrude lays out their snacks which are healthy and delicious and the kids scatter to their respective rooms to change and play for a bit. I know April really appreciates her job and I know she understands me and my children. She is a gift to our family.

I go to my sunken office that has the most beautiful view of the ocean and a light that makes me feel like I am so taken care of, to make calls to my publisher about the follow up to my first book about growing up in LA as a mixed race babe.  That book was such a success that it landed me my column in the New York Times and in Oprah’s monthly magazine along with 40 speaking engagements a year.

My time is precious and I only do what I love these days. It makes me a better person and a more loving person who has more to give to the world.

My agent calls to tell me the deal we’ve been working on to land a three picture movie deal with the top motion picture house has been worked out. She is elated. Her name is Elaine and she’s Chinese American and one of the most organized, visionary, clear thinking people I know. She gets what she wants. Always. And that’s why I love having her on my team.

I work with my production team and band three days a week, writing new material for us and for other people. Britney Spears just recorded one of my tunes which shocked me a bit but then once I realized how relatable my music is to the masses, got clear as to why.  My kids think it’s funny. In the off season of television, I travel to festivals and concert halls to perform as a vocalist. My entire family and team come with me and we make it a holiday.

Mommy’s doing what she loves and always makes sure she takes the people she loves with her, our son Charlie says to his teacher.

I am fulfilled, satisfied and always in gratitude for my life. I love my parents who are very involved in the kids lives. My sisters, brother and nieces are in constant contact and we get together at least monthly.  We have the resources to fly to all meet for at least 48 hours. And it is worth it.  Rich’s parents finally took the trip over to America to see the kids and his dad’s health has improved significantly. We of course travel to London twice a year to spend time with Rich’s family and so the kids can play with their cousins.

I am in awe at how filled my schedule is and at the same time, I never feel like I’m working. I have an accountant, lawyer, financial advisor and Carol to help me keep things in order. My manager Patty is in perfect alignment with me in my vision for my life and career. He is a genius when it comes to organizing and I pay him generously to show how much I value his contribution to my life.

I have great friends who I see each week. Some of them are coming over tonight for dinner. I have an amazing team of professionals who feel just as blessed as I do to be working with me. I have a wonderful mentor, spiritual advisor and community of mixed race families and friends who support my children and my relationship.

Rich and I miss each other in a good way because we’re so in love with what we’re doing and we make time twice a week to have our own time. Our kids always want to be a part of mommy and daddy’s time but they get how important it is.  We all communicate very well with each other and have family talks twice a month to talk about our families vision and how all five of us are contributing to the DeBose-Litvins having the best life.

We are in love with life, with each other and with spirit.

**

This is what I visualized today. I was filled with energy as I power walked through La Fayette Square. Having visions be so real and so detailed is a powerful experience. I noticed I didn’t care how long I walked. I didn’t put my attention outside my created experience to focus on lack or limitations. I felt energized and more determined than before to make this a reality.

In this moment I am so excited about my day. I am thinking, what can I do to help make this a reality? Who can I call? What meetings can I set up? Which classes can I take to help get me prepared for this life that has brought itself forward? I love it.

I almost don’t want to stop writing today because I want to live in the creation. And let me just claim it now. I can live in this creation. It will be the energy I use to motivate me to make the calls that have sometimes presented themselves as scary. I will use the energy to sustain the faith I have in life and myself and my talent.

Okay. Onward and upward. I claim today as a beautiful, empowered day. When I go to sleep tonight, I will knock out on the pillow because I used so much energy towards creating my ideal scene. I will be excited by what I did today and will have to tell Rich with the giddiness of a child in love with life.

My husband’s buddy, Dr. Joe, got married this weekend to his girlfriend, Dr. Nina. We were invited to their $$$$$$ Malibu wedding. Their wedding colors were blue and brown, but you will see some yellows and blues in their floral decor (they are both UCLA Alumni).  There were about 180 guests. Food was catered by Truly Yours Catering. Nina’s friend, Eva, from Red Velvet Occasion was the wedding coordinator, she probably had 3-4 assistants (that I counted). The weather was great while the sun was up, but as it gets darker the temperature also dropped a notch. Ceremony and reception were both outdoors on the lawn, walking on the grass was a bit hard with heels, but the kids definitely loved rolling around.  Flowers were by: Magnolia’s Florist. Photography by: Lok In the Moment. Rentals by: Persiano Event Rentals. Enough wordy descriptions, pictures are better.

Malibu Mansion

Red carpet experience

Main house with blue and yellow accents

Wedding reception set up

Wedding ceremony set up

Ceremony chair flower

Groom and Groomsman trying to fix the fallen altar

Bridesmaids wore blue strapless dresses and blue/white hydrangea bouquet

Father of the Bride walking her down the aisle

Bride and Groom saying their vows

You may kiss the bride

Cute mini shell photo frames for placecards

Placecard table floral decor

4 of the 6 groomsmen: Alex, Dan (BM), Dave (my hubby), and Rob

Reception tablesetting and centerpiece

Little guest tipping over on the lawn

4 tier buttercream wedding cake with blue ribbon and goldish-brown damask design

Grand entrance with top hat, and feather boa

Another shot of the mansion

Gabe talking with Ron Wolfley at the KTAR Radiothon for PCH.

Pinnacle Education CEO, Dr. Michael Matwick, donated $500 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital during this year’s KTAR Radiothon. Gabe Trujillo, a former patient at PCH and current Pinnacle employee, was on hand to help raise funds for the hospital and presented the check to KTAR’s Doug and Wolf during his on-air interview.

Dr. Matwick heard Gabe’s story and decided that he wanted to do something to help this great cause.

The event runs all day today, and if you want to know more about the radiothon, visit www.ktar.com.

Just like those rusty mailboxes, this picture was taken off of PCH in Malibu, CA. This beach house actually shared a parking lot with a Baja Fresh (I think) and the abandoned stroller really caught my eye.

On PCH in Malibu, they were setting up a carnival last week. The rides were almost set up and you could see workers mulling about, getting things ready. The seaside sunlight was so bright and it made these Ferris wheels glitter in the sun.

Steel Parade performed for the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce mixer.

WAIT!!!

Don’t you want to know what we ate?

See the official Steel Parade video of this gig.

Click on this link:http://www.fbook.me/steelparade /dana point, ca – 8/20/09

Come join Steel Parade for some Sunday afternoon fun!

Dancin, singin, drinkin, and drummin!

All ages, Good food, Full Bar with drink specials, No Cover!!

Show up and have some fun!!!

Previous Taco Surf:

We left Lompoc, CA about 9am to head back out on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Per Geo’s advice, we wanted to do the length of the highway during the day because it’s a long, twisty road with no relief and little mercy for dawdling drivers.

But before we truly committed to Highway 1, we stopped off at Arroyo Grande to take in the cuteness of a town that sports a hoosegow and a swinging bridge. It’s adorable and touristy, but we enjoyed it. I think I was most taken by the butcher shop that wrapped cuts of meat in wax paper. I hadn’t seen that since I moved away to college. Good stuff, I’m sure. Pattie got a monster apple-cinnamon muffin that didn’t last the trip to San Jose. Equally good stuff.

We stopped in Morrow to look at Morrow Rock, but it was foggy and we couldn’t see much. This town is obviously about fishing, so we had an early lunch of fish tacos and clam chowder. The pico de gallo sauce that came with the tacos was so awesome, the fish didn’t register. Noting the many donut places in Morrow, we caved in at the Lil Orbits donut stand (because wee know about donuts, hello!) and watched them fry, sugar, and bag our donuts to go. Ooooooo so good!

A little later down the road, we drove up to the Hearst Castle Visitor Center. It was a good thing this did not win the poll because we would have been there all day. Saturday is not the time to visit, FYI. Traipsed through the enormous gift store and then boogied on down the road.

At this point, we were committed to the PCH until Monterrey. The highway rolled from one scenic vista into another, one cloud bank after another…with only a few highlights along the way. The most notable, for me, were the elephant seals.

Most of these monster beasts were baking in the sand, but a few were rough-housing in the shallow bay. Males fight for dominance by making a deep barking noise and then clashing against each other in the surf. It was a spectacle. The docent at the beach said they’d only been in the area since 1990, and upwards of 4,000 pups are born there every January. He also had a baby elephant seal book complete with birthing pictures. Not for the faint of heart.

Ragged Point, Big Sur, and Caramel all blended together towards the end. Scenic and beautiful, but not enough to hold us back from getting to our destination.

We did stop in Gilroy to look at a winery (and use the facilities), and soon realized we were in the garlic capital of the USA. All manner of garlic products were to be had — salsa, pesto, chips, and even wine. We bought a sampling of stuff to take to our friend Mary’s house. She let us stay with her in San Jose, which is where we are now.

We plan to go to the Winchester Mystery House tomorrow before heading to San Francisco and possibly taking a turn East to home.

It’s 10:42pm.