Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Yes, it's raining, again. It's like a good ole midwestern summer rain storm.  Except it has been raining for three days so far...and about 4 or so to go. We are satisfied with the rain vs. the snow we would be shoveling had we not left. Except.....Kathryn's school (like all California schools) is made up of a bunch of smaller (three-four classrooms) buildings scattered throughout the school campus.  This makes for wet walks between the classroom and library, classroom and lunchroom and if she needs to use the bathroom, well, those are outside too.  So I have her wearing snow boots and her snow jacket, and pick up a soggy mess each afternoon.  It's way too windy to send her with an umbrella. I guess we have to put purchasing a raincoat and rainboots on the top of our shopping list.  And in other news, the Sierras (about 45 minutes from here) are getting pounded with snow...we are talking four FEET in one day.  We can't wait to check it out...

Happy New Year!

To ring in the New Year, we decided to head to the coast.  We stayed in the Hyatt on Embarcadero in San Fran.  This is a great location that I would reccommend to anyone travelling to that great city.  It was a block off the water, across the street from the Ferry Building Marketplace (great food and shopping), on Market Street and is at the beginning/end of the street car, bus, trolley and waterfront trolley station.  So for $2 bucks we rode the MUNI where we needed to go.

We arrived New Years Eve and went for lunch at Sinbad's on the water.  (not recommended although it was given high marks... it's very 70's-like)  Then shopping down Market street.  After a great sushi dinner, we went to the 18th floor of our hotel for the NYE celebration.  We found great seats and had a great view of the bay and Ferry Building.  We stayed there for three hours, eating and drinking and playing board games.  Finally at midnight, we watched one of the best fireworks shows (people around us said that in the past years it was so foggy/rainy.)

The next two days were spent ice skating, visiting Haight/Ashbury, shopping, visiting Golden Gate Park and Presidio, and the Wharf.  And if you are ever in town, make sure to stop by our favorite place for chowder, the Blue Mermaid. Here are some pictures.

The views from our Room (ice skating rink below)