I just installed a nice little tool on this site called Snap Shots that enhances links with visual previews of the interactive excerpts of Wikipedia articles, MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles, Amazon products, videos, RSS, MP3s, photos, stock charts, and more. Sometimes, Snap Shots brings you the information you need without your having to leave the site, while other times it lets you "look ahead" before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.
Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.
Evan was thrilled to learn that the Astros would be in town, sort of, while he's here, for the first time in 10 years. The kids and Tim piled in the car a few hours ago, and took off early, hoping to get there in time for batting practice. I think they made it! Tim sent me this photo from his phone. I guess the seats aren't the most horrible, although I've never liked sitting in the outfield. Maybe they'll catch a foul ball. Tim also called me so that I could hear the National Anthem. Tonight, it was played by one of the military bands.
Tim has decided that his team should be the Giants, since we live closer to them than the Phillies (the team he had been following and selecting in the APBA game). Sorry, Daddy.
I guess I should go watch the game. Maybe I'll see them. I hope they all remembered to bundle up (if it's ever warm in San Francisco, it's a fluke).
"You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege."
Evan has wanted to go to Alcatraz for several years now. It's taken a few years to get it set up, because I keep forgetting that you have to make reservations a couple of weeks in advance. You can't just decide, "Hey, let's go to Alcatraz today." Finally, this summer, I remembered to make the reservations before it was too late.
The trip to Angel Island and Alcatraz was an excellent one, to hear it described. Tim, Evan, and Bethany left at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday. They had to be ready to board the tour boat in San Francisco at 9:00. Not knowing where they had to go or
how traffic would be, they had to leave pretty early. Tim and kids arrived in plenty of time, found a great parking space (miracles do happen!), and had time to go to breakfast at a fancy restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf (no one seems to remember the name of the restaurant).
They boarded the tour boat and rode over to Angel Island, first. I first
learned
of
Angel Island on History Detectives a few years ago. It had been used much like Ellis Island, as a point of entry for immigrants, for a number of years. Tim and the kids learned quite a bit more of the history of the island, though, which is very interesting. A few things:
The island was inhabited for thousands of years by the Miwok Indians.
After 1808, Russian sea otter hunting expeditions established a storehouse on the island.
Camp Reynolds was established during the Civil War to protect against confederate soldiers slipping into the Bay and attacking naval installations at Mare Island and the Benicia Arsenal.
Soldiers coming home, during World Wars I and II, were quarantined for six weeks on the island.
They rode on a tram around Angel Island, walked around and took pictures for a while, and got back on the boat headed for Alcatraz.
Tim, Evan, and Brett toured the prison and walked around the island.
There are only a few places that have been repaired and reconstructed
to show how things looked back when it was all in use. Most of the
buildings on Alcatraz are in disrepair, including the prison. There
was a fire a couple of decades ago that destroyed many of the
buildings. It is very chilly and windy at the prison, even in August.
The tour took them to "Broadway," the hole, the yard, the cafeteria,
the library. They saw where escape attempts were made. The holes from
grenades were still there from the siege in 1946.
One of the ex-prisoners, Darwin Coon, was there signing autographs. Evan bought his book, Alcatraz:
The True End of the Line, and got the autograph. I read the book immediately, since Evan was leaving shortly after this trip. Tim bought me a book
about the history of the prison. Bethany bought a harmonica, I
believe. Maybe she'll play it when she's grounded, believing she's got
it as tough as those guys in prison. They brought back a souvenir for Brett, too. A wall hanging of one of the rules they had there on the
Rock. Regulation #5: You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege. Good for prisoners, good for kids. Prison warden, parent - same thing.
They have a night tour of Alcatraz that's supposed to be pretty scary. It was already sold out, or I would have had them go on that tour. I'll have to try next year. Bethany loves to be scared.
Here's a slide show of the trip. Tim was the photographer most of the time. If you click on the arrow in the center, a little square of arrows will appear in the bottom right-hand corner. Click on these little arrows to see the slide show in full screen.
Last Saturday (June 7) was supposed to be the day that Michelle and her family (mom, brother, aunt, and uncle) were to come over for dinner. Unfortunately, their flight was delayed a couple of hours, and I hadn't thought about the time getting through customs. The trip to our house, even with no traffic issues, wasn't possible. Evan, Bethany, and Tim drove to San Francisco to meet them. They took the BART from the airport and rode over to Fisherman's Wharf to have dinner. Tim took a number of photos. I'd seen pictures of Michelle before, but this was the first time to see her mom and brother. Everyone had fun. Tim had a good time talking with the "adults." Evan was, I'm sure, spending most of his time with Michelle. Tim and Evan said Bethany was talking and laughing a lot with Michelle's brother. Oh! and they came bearing some pretty cool gifts, too!
Recent Comments