San Simeon Weekend

An on-line work conversation led to an offer to comp me a campsite and Hearst Castle tickets.  It’s great working for State Parks for many reasons!

I managed to get a little lost on the way Thursday and arrived at camp tired, discouraged and a little grumpy with poor Benjamin and Anna as my prisoners.  Fortunately, David and Teresa in their car already knew the way and got there an hour ahead of us.  They checked in and the ranger gave us a great site!  in probably the best site in San Simeon State Park – best for us at least.  

 Roasting hot dogs over a campfire helped restore my spirits, although there was more of a nip in the air than I had anticipated.  We had family prayer, scriptures, and reading club by phone with Joseph.

Anna enjoyed camping, but she thinks she would have enjoyed it more if I had let her run out to explore the interesting things she heard and smelled.  She spent much of Thursday night bouncing around the tent.  Around 2am, she actually managed to get out the back.  Benjamin and I scrambled for our shoes calling her name, but by the time I opened the front flap, she was there and we got her back in.  Smelling funny.  as in not good and not the way she smelled when she left.  Not full on skunk, thank goodness!  I don’t know what it was, but it was definitely something.  Later in the night we heard coyotes yipping.  She whined to join them, not believing me when I told her they would most likely eat her.  Friday night was less rowdy except for barking at other dogs barking in other camps and a little whining for the wild life.

Friday morning we took the Hearst Castle Tour 1. What an amazing place!  A bit much for my personal taste, but breathtaking.  There are several tours which each show different parts of the castle (although I think they all begin and end at the same places).  I strongly suspect that even if you took all the tours, you would not see all the castle.

Here you see the Enchanted Hill from the Visitor's Center.

It's a 5 mile bus ride from the Visitor's Center to the castle along the same road the Hearst and his guests used.   People would train in to San Luis Obispo or fly to Hearst's own landing strip not far from the Visitor's Center and be driven up by limo.

Oh, great.  I am out of storage space for photos.  I didn't even know I had Picsasa, but apparently that is where my photos go when I put them on the blog. ?  must learn more .  kater ,   when I have time.  (ha)

Meanwhile you can see more and better pictures of Hearst Castle here:  http://www.hearstcastle.org/  Hearst enjoyed collecting art, building this place to showcase it, and sharing the art, the place, and good times. 

Julia Morgan was architect for both Asilomar and Hearst Castle. Each has its own style and beauty.  My personal preference runs towards Asilomar.

We spent most of the day at Hearst Castle and Visitor's Center - tour in the morning, movie and visitor's center in the afternoon. 

Later, I made a post office run with a missionary Christmas package, followed by a visit to the Elephant Seal Boardwalk.  Then Benjamin, Anna and I enjoyed the beach at sunset. 

Saturday morning we all, David, Teresa, Benjamin, Anna and I, spent some time on the beach again.  Then lunch and a game of  Phase 10 before heading home.  

We had a lovely weekend.  Joseph enjoyed quiet time having the house to himself and working on cleaning and organizing his room - trying to refind Andrew's space which he had taken over.  (Before Benjamin finds the space for him!) 

Pictures from Asilomar

My room - I had the bed by the window

Deer Lodge - I was in the upstairs room you see

Looking out my window. 

The Boardwalk - looking from the road by the beach towards the conference grounds

20-25 deer live at Asilomar

The Long and Short

It's been a long time away from family. Eased by nightly telephone conference for prayer & scriptures. And by learning Internet access is not as limited as I had been told. For instance, Asilomar does not have Internet in its guest rooms, but the Mott Training Center has the Internet which reaches to our lodge & my roommate told me the password. Love Facebook!

It has been a long time away from my own home, my own bed, & my own shower. But it has been a short time away from all the responsibility. It has been a short time having someone come make up the bed with fresh sheets everyday!

It has been a short time living amongst the pines by the sea with black-tailed deer for neighbors.

It has been a very SHORT time away from the stress of my office.

Tomorrow we check out before class begins. I do not look forward to packing up and returning my key. Class all morning and then it's over. I haven't decided whether to stay for lunch or not. It has been a short time not worrying about shopping, cooking, or dishes. I have planned all along to take my own sweet time before leaving the coast. I probably will as this is so rate an opportunity, but I feel the pull of home.

Tomorrow I will trade in the sound of the ocean through my open window for my ocean cd I at at night. But tomorrow I will trade in my nightly telephone text hugs for real ones.

Refuge By The Sea

Asilomar means "refuge by the sea". It is,indeed, a peCeful & beautiful place.

This week I am in training, taking "Introduction to State Parks" at the Mott Training Center at Asilomar Conference Grounds and State Beach in Pacific Grove near Monterey. It is beautiful. The weather has been perfect. The surf wild, beautiful & dangerous.

It is wonderful to take these classes in this remarkable place - and enjoy a respite from the stress at work. And get paid for it!

The classes are interesting & informative. I have learned many things! Including about the laws which give Parks it's authority & some of the legal questions & challenges Parks faces. We have learned Parks history and philosophy. Department organization. Somethings about various programs within the department.

Parks people really do believe in Parks' mission: "...to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting it's most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. My classmates are from all over the state & many parts of the department They all care about Parks and what it stands for.

Today I was surprised to learn - among other things - how Off-Highway Vehicle Parks help the environment. Yesterday's stunner was the danger of drowning and how hard the Department's Aquatic Safety Program - our Ranger Lifeguards - work to save lives.

We are really sad that Prop 21 failed. Today our director Ruth Coleman has a video conference with all Parks employees. She tells it like it is, but she doesn't quit. She reminded us that the vote was not onthe VALUE of Parks, just on how to fund them. We are in to hard times, but we will strive to be true to our mission. We will go on looking for creative ways to manage. We will also look to all the Prop 21 supporters for help.

I know that time this week at Asilomar is solace to my soul. Living the mission.

Too Many

When I was a girl, my mother sent me in to make her bed telling me to report to her how many times I went back and forth around the bed to get it right. I was clueless.  I thought she was testing how WELL I made the bed.  Oh! I was so careful!  Smoothing each piece to perfection then going around to the other side to do the same.  I don’t remember how many trips around the bed I made.  It sure looked good when I was done.  I confidently reported back.  She made no comment about how good the bed looked, but she scolded me for inefficiently going back and forth so many times instead of smoothing the sheet and several blankets on one side before going to do the other. 

Sometimes not much changes in life. 

We have to submit a contribution report to our supervisor each month reporting how many of each form we process, phone calls we field, etc.  In today’s staff meeting, we were scolded for sending and receiving too many emails – answering questions about the status of something or how to submit a claim, etc.  Without being asked what kind of emails we were sending and receiving we were told we must not be answering questions effectively to have so many emails. 

It would help if we knew what they were looking for.

Wednesday Workplace Woes

By mid Monday morning it had already been a long week and it hasn't gotten a whole lot better.  Additionally, we are having to adjust our mindset to a full 5 day work week after having Furlough Fridays for so long.  Once we had gotten over the money shock, we became addicted to the time.  sigh.  We don't know how we come out financially on the new program.  Our retirement contribution will be increased and we will have one unpaid leave day a month, we are far from getting back a full paycheck, but it should be a little more than it was with 3 furloughs.

The good news/bad news is that with the budget finally passed, we can do our regular work.  Of course, we have a nearly 4 month back-log and people wanting the checks they have had to wait so long for NOW.  Being busy is good.  Being behind and badgered not so good.

New supe lacks people skills, supervisory skills, team skills, and leadership skills.  She does occasionally bring in bagels or muffins. And calls us 'dear' and 'friend.'  She has told at least 2 of my co-workers that she doesn't like their attitude, which I do not think from my observations was justified.  People are disgruntled, anxious, and edgy.  I haven't had it too bad except not being given time to give platelets and being told I might be denied my family reunion vacation time this spring!!!  Battles to be fought later  - after I let things settle and consider my strategies.

Today I am required to attend a meeting that begins 15 minutes before my work time.  We, however, are not allowed to adjust our schedule coming in early/late to meet personal needs. 


When I went out to my bike - a little later than I wished, as usual -  I found the back tire nearly flat. I fumbled with pumping it up - wondering if it would completely flat out mid-commute - gave up and made a dash for the Light Rail.  We pay parking now.  It took me a few minutes to figure out how. The good news is I had found my mis-placed novel "We'll Always Have Parrots" by Donna Andrews - good author - humor mystery - and I actually got a seat on the train.  So, it was a pleasant ride in.

Now, time for that meeting.

I hope your woes are no worse than mine and that you have a good day!

Family Home Haunting

Last night for Family Home Evening we came together with paper, pens, scissors and scriptures.  The assignment? Make a ghost and write a scripture on it about ghost or spirit.   We ended up with several ghosts, including Casper The Friendly Ghost, a skeleton, a very small tree and a lot of giggling.  Several ghosts were hung from the blades of the ceiling fan.  We learned that even on low, the fan was a bit too fast for them.

 I am not sure how spiritual it was, but we had fun.

Tuesday or Busy Day Special or Supper

I am having leftover Busy Day Special (formerly Tuesday Night Special) (or is it Supper?) for lunch which Teresa made for dinner last night.

It started out as Tuesday Night Special.  Long ago, the kids and I went around the neighborhood every Tuesday afternoon collecting old newspapers and cans that the neighbors saved for us.  We would try to get to the recycling center before it closed that evening.  We were earning money for our Marine World /Africa USA memberships.  Back when there was a Marine World / Africa USA and they had memberships.  Back before the city started recycling. 

Before we left, I would brown up some ground beef, add uncooked rice, water, tomatoes and either green beans or corn, some taco seasoning and leave it on low.  When we got back, I would add cheese on top and dinner was ready.

The kids and I worked hard, earned our annual memberships and went to Marine World often. Good times!

I miss Marine World / Africa USA.  To me it was a hint of paradise on earth.  I loved seeing the animals and how the trainers interacted with them.  I felt safe and peaceful there.  Although I have been accused of being over protective and was somewhat protective there, at Marine World, especially during the off-season, I felt comfortable letting the children sometimes go their own way with regular check in times and places.  I think we learned a bit about relationships as we learned how the trainers taught the animals. It was a wonderful place.

It broke my heart a little when Marine World / Africa USA became Six Flags Marine World.  While not my thing, amusement parks are alright in their place, but I don't think it is good for amusement rides to be in such close proximity to the animals.   I imagine that the animals are under a lot of stress now.  It just makes me sad.  I am also sad that my younger children didn't get to grow up with Marine World as a regular part of our life.

Nothing has replaced Marine World in our lives. If only we lived closer to Sea World that would help. 

The spirit of the times

I have ghosts all around in my cubicle, each with a scripture about the Holy Ghost or the Spirit.


They are having a door decorating contest.
This entrance to my office

Sideways view of the side view

Sideways view of the other side.  I emailed these from my cell phone and I don't know how to turn them.  I also do not know why they are different sizes.

This is the door of my office going out

I hope you are in good spirits! 

Benjamin's Eagle Project - The Effie Yeaw Nature Center Amphitheater - Ta da!

In which I show you many several pictures of the finished product. I am so proud of the job Benjamin did and grateful for the support he received.

Approaching on the little trail from the front of the Nature Center.  (A more accessible trail can be accessed going around the building the other way.)  To your left a deer (not people) fence crossing.

The (more accessible) trail comes around from the back of the Nature Center continues behind the deck and on to hiking trails.

Nice touches - raised railing for easy clean-off and the rocks lining the back of the deck.

A little bit of clean up.

The deck is flush with the ground at one end.

The access trail behind the Nature Center.

A lovely end to a lovely and productive day.

Feeling good about a job well done.