Saturday, August 9, 2008

Returning Home

Today we got up had breakfast and started to pack. Harry and Zita did one more walk around the lake as I packed up the Jeep. The drive home was uneventful. The trip started off a little rocky but turned into a nice relaxing time and Harry got to spend a lot of quality time with his mother. Once we got home, we unpacked, had lunch and hung out. Zita went back to the hotel to rest and came back later in the day, were we had dinner and hung out some more.

Two more days and I go back to work :(

Friday, August 8, 2008

Cabin Day Two

Today we woke up around 8am and I was preparing to drive down to my mom's to pick up a spare key (this would be about a four-hour round trip). I wasn't looking forward to it but I knew I had to do it. We heard someone pull up next to the cabin and I looked out the window and saw Chuck. He drove up here to give us a key. I was very pleased to see him as it meant I didn't have to drive down.. so day two started off a little better then day one. After Chuck gave us a key and left we took Zita on a walk around the lake.

I wanted to drive into Big Bear and get the key duplicated and have my tired fixed, as I didn't like the idea of not having a spare tire when we drove home. So we drove into Big Bear, about a half hour drive and once we found a place we got the keys made... at least until they change the locks again (this is the third time). We dropped off the tire at an automotive repair shop. The person who did tires was out to lunch and it looked like it would be a few hours before they could fix it. So we had some lunch at Denny's then went to this very beautiful small park next to Big Bear Lake called Boulder City Park or something like that. We sat there for about twenty minutes then I got a call saying the tire was ready and we went and picked it up and drove back to the cabin. Once back we had some dinner at one of the restaurant in Green Valley (there are only two) and called it a night.

So the second day up at the cabin was much better then the first.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Up to the Cabin

Today Harry, Zita, Daisy and I packed up the jeep and headed up to Green Valley Lake, where my step dad Chuck has a small cabin. Harry and I wanted to take Zita up there as she love nature and we figured it would be nice to get away from all the craziness for a while.

Well things didn't go as planned. After a two hour drive we get to the base of the mountain and I get a phone call message from my Mom, she says "I heard you are going up to the cabin, well I just wanted to let you know that the locks have been changed." I immediately called her back but my phone reception is horrible up there. After several attempts they tell me they changed all the locks but there was a hidden key but hard to find. I decided we would take our chances and go up there since we were already 2/3'ds of the way up there.

We get to the cabin and search and search for this hidden key... it wasn't there. Harry and I were on our back in cobwebs and dirt trying to find it. Harry then noticed that my back tire was flat. So not only are we locked out of the cabin but we have a flat tire... could this day get any worse... yep it can.

I decide that will have to go through a window or something but guess what.. ever window in that place was shut tight and some had screws preventing them from being opened. I could not believe this was happening. We finally found a screwdriver in my car and went to the back kitchen window. It's one of those double windows that slide up and down. Anyway I was able to unscrew the security screws then pull the window down. I thought success I was able to get my arm in there to unlock the door.. but noooooo these new bolt locks had no knob on the inside.. they required a key so we couldn't get in. I was not going to be defeated. I climbed on to a trashcan with Harry's assistance I managed to pull, push, squeeze myself into the upper part of this window without breaking anything.

Once inside I went to the front door and low and behold the bolt lock was the same and had no knob to turn.. you needed a key. So I was locked inside the cabin and Harry and his mom were locked outside. I went to the front window and with my trusty screwdriver I unscrewed the safety screw and opened the front window, which was level with a bench in front of the house. So Zita, Daisy and Harry climbed through the window to get in. Once inside I wasn't feeling so hot, I was sweaty and sick to my stomach. I hadn't eaten all day and I think I over exerted myself trying to break into the cabin. I tried to eat some lunch hoping that would help.. but it didn't work. An hour after I started to feel bad Harry started to feel the same way. But after a few hours we were both feeling alot better.

I called my Mom and told her that I couldn't find the spare key, that we were using the front window as a door and that I would have to drive down tomorrow morning to pick up a key as I didn't like the idea of Zita climbing through a window to get in and out. So later in the day when I was feeling better Harry and I changed my tire with the spare, this was the first time using this spare and we hoped it would work... it did. So it's wasn't the most relaxing day ever.. but hopefully things would work out.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Another Relaxing Day

Today we finished cleaning up the house... whoo hooo. Harry's mom came over around 11:30am and we just hung out. We did a little grocery shopping as we are heading up to my Mom's cabin tomorrow for a few days. Other than that it was a nice relaxing day.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

A Day to Relax

Today Bernd, Gerda and Leonhard left early this morning to go up to Northern California and continue their vacation. Harry's mom Zita decided to stay here with us and visit with her son for the next nine days until they get back.

We didn't do much. Harry and I continued to clean up the house after the wedding. Things are finally getting back to normal around here. Harry and his mom visited, we took her shopping and out to dinner (Sizzler), which she loved the salad bar because of some many options. All in all a much needed and quiet day.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Sea World

Today was our last family outing with Harry's family. We drove down to San Diego's Sea World. I had only been there once before many years ago so I was looking forward to this trip. The first thing we did was watch the Shamu show, which was alot of fun. We then walked around and saw Manarays which Bernd, Gerda and Leonhard feed. We watched Dolphins and whale show then Sea Lions and Sea Otter show. We did lunch after the shows then decided that we would split up. Bernd, Gerda and Leonhard would go one way and Zita, Harry and I would go another.

Our group did the Sky Tower, Wild Arctic, Polar Bears, Beluga Whales, Penguins and Manatees before needing a rest. After the break we watched one more show Pet's Rule, which was very cool.

After that we joined back up with the other group and Leonhard did one final kids ride before we headed back around 7:30pm. We stopped by Denny's for some dinner on our way home and got home around 10:30pm

It was a fun and exhausting day. But a great way to end Harry's family trips.. at least with us.

After that we joined back up with the other group and Leonhard did one final kids ride before we headed back around 7:30pm. We stopped by Denny's for some dinner on our way home and got home around 10:30pm

It was a fun and exhusting day. But a great way to end Harry's family trips.. at least with us.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

The Day After / Mummy 3

Today Harry and I along with his family cleaned up and tried to put things back in order. Yesterday was a wonderful day. Even though things didn't go as planned it was a beautiful ceremony and everyone enjoyed themselves. Today the rental place picked up tables, chairs and all other rentals. We took down decorations and tents and tried to put the back yard back together again.

Later in the day Bernd, Gerda, Harry and I went to dinner and a movie. We wanted to show them an American movie theater. We took them to Burbank AMC 16. We wanted to see a movie in one of the largest theater and we were hoping it was The Dark Knight. But it seemed that it was pushed out by The Mummy III, which was cool because we also wanted to see that movie.

The Mummy III was what I expected. A fun action packed movie. The story was okay but what you see a Mummy movie for is the speical effects and this one has some great effects.

All in all a nice day after the big day day.