Guerneville Kayaking

Kai accidentally runs into this giant at the River Bend Resort-

...I guess there must be something in the water here to make things larger than usual?

We spent the weekend here camping north about an hour and a half from where we live.

And the Bienert family came too. That's Kai and Lukas swinging away there.

That's our Eurovan camper vehicle with the top that pops up to sleep 2 people. Kai slept in the back section on the main level- a perfect mini-crib for his size.

We got into the kayak and went along the river to Guerneville. The Bienert's would meet us there at the beach since they did not have a kayak.

Kai even tried to help (more like add drag instead) and when he got tired- he had his sippy cup to help quench his thirst.

Look at this beautiful scenery! The weather was perfect for this kind of activity.

Kai even sat on the front of the boat and rode it like a horse holding unto the rope.

After 45 minutes or so, we finally made it to the bridge at Guerneville and the Bienert's tried out our kayak.

Kai and daddy hung out on the boardwalk to watch them disappear from view.

When they returned, Lukas and Kai played in the pebbles of the beach- getting dirt everywhere.

Rolf and Ute decided to try the kayak again, this time without Lukas.

And then sometime later that day. Kai and I walked around the little town to check out the stores and came across this flood indicator.

OPEN ARMS, NEVER, and I Want You to Want Me (Journey, Heart, & Cheap Trick)

Kai's FIRST real concert!
OOOH, on a school / work night, we attended a concert at the Sleep Pavilion in Concord to see Journey, Cheap Trick and Heart. Kai was also curious to know what this was all about, stating "I'm scared!" when he saw all the traffic of cars and people rushing to get into the pavilion.


Although we were already 30+ minutes late, we had just seen Cheap Trick for a very short stint (meaning we heard a few lyrics, and then they walked off the stage) when we found a small patch of grass to lay out our blanket. This place was jam-packed! Kai was wide-eyed with this event and even participated in dancing a little and mimicking the guitarist. Greg was a concerned parent and even brough ear protection for Kai as he knew the music would be loud.

Soon Heart came on and unlike Cheap Trick, the fans brought out their lighters for an encore-and they did just that, sing a few more songs to please the crowd.

Then at last! Journey appeared, and not with the original singer, Steve Perry, (whose voice I fell in love with when I first heard him at age 13)- but Arnel Pineda- straight from the Philippines!and nevertheless, the same songs and lyrics sung by Arnel brought back childhood memories of highschool.

~

Now this is a big moment for the Filipinos, and there were several in attendance there, some waving their native flag. Although I am only part Filipino, I could not help but feel a bit proud of Arnel - well heck, you never hear about the Filipinos in the Olympics or anything great ( unless about some devastating news- poverty, prostitution, guerillas, etc.), so this was a good time.

And there is a story about the return of Journey-the lead singer Steve Perry ended up with hip surgery, and when the other musicians had to talk to his attorneys, gave me the impression that he was not doing this gig anymore, left those wanting to regroup restless. So guitarist Neil did the www search and found their singer on YOU TUBE! And guess what? Arnel sounds EXACTLY like Steve Perry, and also somewhat resembles him with that long hair.

There's a nice ending to this story though, Arnel once lived on the streets and fighting for his survival, making money doing singing gigs here and there to help his siblings/family. And can you imagine? He is now living his dream!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_2UivtEhs

or do a search on this title on You Tube- "Arnel Pineda Journey CBS News Sunday Morning Interview"... AND Don't Stop Believing!

The new X-files- Kai's handprints and footprints

A bit eerie huh?

My junk is someone's treasure, right? This weeks stuff...

Earlier this week, Kai decided to wear my motorcycle helmet that I am in the process of selling on Craigslist, with gloves and goggles. For some reason, Kai is just fascinated with motorcycles and will call any person riding one "daddy", as the first motorcycle he sat on was on a BMW R1100GS with daddy alright. And we are glad we sold that bike almost 2 years ago, considering the increased motorcycle accidents here in the Bay Area likely due to the sky-rocketing gas prices.

Kai is not looking thrilled having to dance in World Dance class in San Pablo. He is wearing a couple of ethnic looking scarves/dress and refused to participate with the rest of the cooperative children. My child marches to his own drum, as the saying goes...

Lukas is afraid of the Cookie Monster especially when it talks and moves about blocking Lukas' means to escape- so Kai placed Cookie Monster in the "time-out" corner. Poor Cookie! Two-minutes time-out for you!

Other than installing wood floors, I got myself neck deep in this one. Not only did I clean out Kai's room of toys and outgrown clothing to bring to a consignment store, but I ended up going through everything in the house in preparation for the neighborhood garage sale this Saturday 9/13.

I thought we didn't have enough to offer, until I took a good look at all the stuff on our driveway! I was amazed to see what people would buy, like partly used fabric softener, old dusters, hair products, Harley motorcycle oil, Febreze, my used panties (haha just checking to see if you were paying attention!) a food dehydrator that hadn't been washed for probably 10-years + as the food stains are still in there, and my bling-bling shoes. Things I thought would go, just didn't.

(The person hiding behind her jacket didn't want to be on the media that she was also up for sale! Actually she was offering German massages- which you know is just gonna hurt as rough as they are!)

It's already 7pm and I'm still cleaning up what wasn't sold. But we did make about $250 while sitting in camp chairs, drinking a margarita, and eating fresh baked pizza (thanks Rachel Rolf!). Even the Bienert's made out with some cash having sold a few things they brought along with them too. We must have had a 100 cars come by,as I did post signs with balloons and also on Craigslist. Joel came on over to hang out late in the day and was pleased when we handed him a wad of dineros from the crib we had sold also, that they had given to us after Brennan moved unto a toddler bed- as so had Kai. So we split the $80 on that one.

The nice thing is the house is clean, organized, and spacious having gotton rid of half the junk accumulated about 12 years living here. Oh, and I failed to mention that I made a deal with Kai- I would have to buy him more toys to replace the old ones sold or donated as he was not happy with what I was doing initially- so Thomas Trains is what he wanted and a few more did he get!

The day after the garage sale, we were pretty tuckered out- as Kai obviously was. At least today, we had a day to enjoy and hiked out in the Sobrante Ridge Park behind our home.

Gualala River, dinosaurs, and art

The next morning we were served a pancake breakfast!


And Kai and Brennan took off to the Redwoods...

They played bocci ball...

And tried their skill at the horse shoe toss.

Joel found a cool feather for his hat.

While the boys ran off to the river to throw rocks...

... Marla and her parents started to pack camp.

And the boys threw more rock...

On the way home, we stopped at the Gualala art gallery.

And Kai came across this huge latrine?

Making our way into the gallery was a challenge...

... because we had difficulty finding the key to the front door!

Alas! We get to see the exhibit (one of my favorites).

Would you wear this necklace of former girlfriends around on a date? Or is he a stalker?

Beauty awaits outdoors...

... and even art can come to life!

Passing a nursery, these people obivously did not see the "Beware- NO tourists. Hungry dinosaurs!" sign.

Overcast and cold just off the ocean.

Here is where all the beef is! Waiting to be road kill!

And sunny and warm inland at Guerneville. We cross a pedestrian bridge over the Russian River. In Guerneville we stopped for a Mexican lunch.

On the way home, we had to pull off the highway. All that water made Kai demand for a pee-stop!