Sunday, June 16, 2013 The Beach

Today Scott and I did our Bible study around 7am. We had a really late breakfast around 9:30am and then packed for the beach. We had a great time walking on the Dana Point State Park Beach. We were standing in one area where there were a bunch of small rocks on the beach when a huge wave came up. It lifted the rocks and literally pelted our legs with them. I'm pretty sure I have a couple of bruises from that! It was kind of chilly. We sat and just watched all of the surfers, standing surfers, and sailboats then decided to swim in the ocean. It was really hard to get started because it was really cold. Janet finally got the nerve and ran in. We all followed. We were out there for about twenty minutes swimming and goofing around. After running in it wasn't cold any more. We were cold after we got out though! We dried off and noticed Scott was starting to get burnt so decided we better head back. We came home cleaned up and then took Charlie to Dana Point Harbor. We walked along the harbor and looked at all the different kinds of boats. There were some Great Blue Heron's nesting up in the trees. They were really loud and very messy but it was still cool to see. Janet was going to so us where Matt worked and we thought we would drive by but she walks into the restaurant with the dog. I was really embarrassed. Matt kicked her out right away. I felt his pain! His girlfriend had been in there so she came out to see us. She seemed really nice. Now we are home waiting for dinner to finish. Scott's watching TV and Janet is napping. Sad that I didn't get to go to the family cookout for Father's Day but did get to talk to Dad a couple times today.

Saturday, June 15, 2013 Dana Point Harbor and JPL

Today was a fabulous day. Scott and I did our Bible study around 7am and headed out for breakfast. We had a very lazy morning until it was time to pack the van. We had to get the two kayaks for Tattini's loaded first and then we slowly loaded all of our stuff. We headed to the Dana Point Harbor Ocean Institute to see the tide pools, but we were too late. It was still a beautiful walk though. Scott and I walked the small beach and put our feet in the water. It took almost two hours to get to Tattini's because there was an accident and traffic was really backed up. Once we got there we waited for Chad and Tanner Tattini to arrive and then for Suzanne's husband Matt. Janet, Shelly, and I road with Matt to JPL and Gene drove the rest of the guys. The lab was closed so we had the VIP tour led by General Gene Tattini. We saw many of the replicas of tools that have been launched and he talked about some of their functionality and history. Then he took us to see his office, the darkroom, and the press room where all announcements are made. It was really fun and extremely interesting. I'm so honored and grateful that he was willing to take the time to take us there. After that we had picnic style food and ate with all of the extended families. It was wonderful listening to everyone's connections and life stories. I was sad when it was time to leave. We all pretty much fell in bed by the time we got home!

Friday, June 14, 2013 San Diego and Juan Capistrano

Friday was a day full of adventure. I got up at 5 am to do my Bible study so that we could go to the tide pools at 6:30. Judson showed up to pick us up and we went for a little adventure. We explored the rocks/tide pools and found a crab and some sea anemone. We stayed there for about a half hour and then went to our last breakfast.

After that, Pam and I went back and finished up some work emails and packed. Around 9am, Judson picked us up so we checked out and loaded his car up with our bags. We headed off to Cabrillo again. This time we hiked up to the museum and then the lighthouse.

We spent about an hour there and then went back to the gift shop so that I could get my passport book stamped.

 We headed to the airport and dropped Pam off. Scott had just landed so we tried to wait there. Security told us we couldn't sit there, but he was really nice about it. We circled back around and hid in a group of cars at the beginning of the line for about twenty minutes when Scott came out with his bags. Janet was stuck in traffic for two hours because there was a big accident by the nuclear power plant.

We did finally all meet though in the parking lot of the USS Midway. That was an incredible museum. Somehow being on an actual carrier gives you a better sense of the enormity of these ships. You also realize that it is like a community of its own. They had everything needed to survive when out at sea. When we got there, they gave us an mp3 player with headphones that we could use free of charge. Each station had a number that you would choose to listen to that part. I really enjoyed the docents, many who were veterans. Scott and Judson got into one of the planes so I could take a picture. We left around 3pm so that we could beat traffic back to San Juan Capistrano. Traffic wasn't horrible and we pulled in to a very happy Charleigh around 5pm. After getting everything brought in and settled, Jan treated us to dinner on the pier for Scott's graduation celebration. It was beautiful. We sat and ate while we watched surfing and other activities in the water. Then we took a walk to the end of the pier and sat on some benches overlooking the beach while we visited some more. It was a wonderful day. Jan and I took Charleigh for a walk around the block and when we came back Scott was sound asleep in the chair. That was our queue that it was time to hit the sack.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Thursday, I prepared in the room for my presentation until about 10am. Then I went to Mick Williams Weeding presentation. The computer didn't work in the room so I loaned him my laptop. After that I got set up and practiced a little with Emilie to test out all of the equipment. My session went pretty well. There were 38-42 people and I finished twenty minutes early - which I think they liked. There were a lot of questions about the products I was demonstrating. After it was finished, Judson drove Pam, Craighton, Julie and I to Cabrillo. At Cabrillo, we spent some time overlooking the water and the Navy base. Then we messed around in the gift shop and watched the movie about its history. It was closing then so we had to leave and when we got back we changed and took off for the banquet. At the banquet, a couple people told me they enjoyed my presentation. After that Pam and I skipped the movie and headed back to the room to pack and sleep.

Wednesday, June 13, 2013 ACL Conference

Pam and I did half of Wednesday's tape and then headed to breakfast. I skipped the keynote speaker so that I could practice screensharing with Emilie. That went well. After that I went to the vendors and poster sessions because our new friend Ruth from Santa Barbara was doing a poster session. After that, I sat outside and talked IT stuff with Simon. When lunch was over, I went to an app presentation and learned a couple of new ideas, then Pam, Judson, and I went to Craighton's presentation. He had 29 attendees and did a nice job. After that Judson and I went on the crazy hike to the ocean. We had to go down about 6 hills and then we hit the impossible. You had to go down a steep incline with nothing to hold on to and then at the end climb a rope to the ocean. I videotaped and talked to kids as they came up. One couple told me there were stairs on the other side so I yelled down to Judson and told him to see if he could get to the other side. He scaled a bunch of rocks and I walked about 3/4 of a mile to the other side. We met at the top of the stairs. He went back down with me and I finally got to step in the Pacific Ocean. Then we had to climb back out. It was grueling but Judson was really nice about waiting for me. I gave him the camera and he took pictures at every new hill. We made it to dinner before it was closed. After dinner, Ruth Angelos drove Pam, Judson, and I to the movies. We went and saw the Great Gasby. I slept through most of it but it was a lot of fun. Expensive though, $16.50 per ticket. On the way out we paid for Judson to try out the Hurricane Simulator! Fun day! May not be able to walk tomorrow AND I have to give my presentation -- need to practice.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Point Loma ACL Conference

Today, I took my shower and worked on arranging my clothes. Pam and I did Tuesday night's Bible lesson, and then she talked through her presentation. After that we went to breakfast and then the keynote speaker. I attended Pam and Curt's presentation at 11am. They had an attentive audience of twenty people. Judson also came to that one. After that Pam and I met up with her to mentees - Donna and Ruth. Donna is unemployed right now and has decided that God wants her to open a Christian library in Hawaii. She is trying to figure out how to accomplish that. It was interesting talking to her. Ruth is from Santa Barbara and a fun person to visit with. They all went to the ACL Business meeting so I went on an adventure down about 4 hills. It was beautiful, but I was still a long distance from the water. I had to climb all the way back up. I was completely out of breath, but my legs held out well - not even sore - thanks to body pump! I was sweating. I sat at a table at the top of the hill to call down. I called Scott and Janet and worked on plans for later this week. At 2:30, I went to a session on Google sites. Great option for those who don't know html or don't have the pages to put them on. After that I went to the Liberal Arts meeting where they did 5 minute talks. They were really good. We had dinner at 5pm and then had to go to the Nazarene Dessert for the unveiling of the Digital Archives.

Monday, June 10, 2013 Point Loma ACL Conference

Pam and I flew into San Diego, California from Midway. Our plan was about forty minutes late taking off. It was a full flight and I didn't even have room for my carry-on up above. It had to sit between my legs the entire four hours.

 Once we checked in at Point Loma Nazarene University and got our luggage up the stairs, we had to run in order to catch lunch. I was pretty hungry because I hadn't eaten breakfast and only had a few crackers on the plane. At lunch we joined up with Craighton and Judson, then we all went to the Nazarene Metadata work session and entered data all afternoon. At 4 pm, we all had to go to the presenter's meeting since we are all presenting this week. Then it was dinnertime. There were four hundred high school students there for a camp. They were all from the same Christian church in Arizona. (They left Tuesday after breakfast.) It was really loud and crowded at meals. Pam had a meeting after that but I went back to the dorm and took a shower. After working for a little while, I reviewed some of my presentation and fell asleep watching Netflix. I think I was asleep by 9pm California time. Two times in the night I could smell a skunk. I don't think he was close by, but maybe down the hill a ways. I was awake by 3am and got out of bed around 5am. Our view is gorgeous and we could hear the ocean all night. It was lovely.