Elmo parades around in Orinda.

While I was in the bathroom, I could hear Kai shriek in anger. Lo and behold, he put himself into a tight situation that he couldn't get out of. I could have left him there for awhile just to keep him contained but you now how that goes...

Later that morning we went to the Orinda Community Center and walked in a parade with at least a hundred other little kiddies dressed in their Halloween attire.

Mama and Kai.

Elmo Kai parades around the park fascinated with the other children's costumes.

Again, kids were pointing out to Elmo Kai as were their parents.

Elmo tries to get a drink from the water fountain.

Elmo Kai tries to make a quick getaway.

Afterwards, there were cookies and apple juice. A photographer from the Contra Costa Times came along and took pictures of Elmo trying to grab cookies off the table, the pictures may be in tomorrow's newspaper in the Lamorinda Sun, as he wrote down our names.

Kai then had a pumpkin tattoo placed on his hand and cheek.

And off to daycare we went with balloons to share with other children there.

Whew! Another day packed with fun for Kai (and me).

Kai tours the new Orinda City Hall

May 24, Thursday

Kai tampers with desk keys.

Greg has been doing some HVAC contract work with the newly built city hall in Orinda. This building is to house an extension of the police department and whatever other city ordinances. What I found most remarkable about this place was their floors were made of recycled cork, the workstations of recycled sawdust and pressboard, and the furniture ergonomic. I have done ergonomic consultations for Silicon Valley companies, i.e. Siebel Systems, thus I was really impressed with their pick of chairs and keyboard trays.

Kai peeks in on daddy, who has a temporary workstation in the electrical room of the building.

But most impressive was the temperature control of the facility. A gauge would determine if the air conditioning or fans should be turned on, otherwise a hall light will inform people to open their windows to improve ventilation. The neat thing was you could also, via remote access, control the thermostat settings from a computer anywhere in the world.

Great technology wouldn't you say? Also a mean trick to play on someone by fiddling with the thermostat. Say, confuse someone with hot flashes or hormonal imbalance?