It was going to be a trip to California to see the family and the OC but first I had to meet with IMG_0293 Carol Greenhouse from Anthropology on Monday and have the shredder man IMG_0294 come on Wednesday to take our wares IMG_0295 to the grinding machine. On Thursday, I had a faculty lunch with IMG_0296 IMG_0297 Joyce Carol Oates (Creative Writing), Warren Warren (Chemsitry), Adele Goldberg (Linguistics), Liz Gavis (Molecular Biology), Stan Katz (Woodrow Wilson School) and Kai Li (Computer Science). Then, John Ikenberry IMG_0298 came by for a minute before this gentleman IMG_0299 moved his truck but wouldn't allow me to take his picture.

I picked up Jane and we drove to the airport parking here IMG_0300 and catching the bus here IMG_0301 so that we could sit next to this gentleman on the plane IMG_0302 and watch him read Jane's copy of The Catcher in the Rye while he shared his book IMG_0303 with Jane but unfortunately it was unreadable. My meal IMG_0304 was no better than Jane's IMG_0305 IMG_0306 except for the main course IMG_0307 of mine which made me hope the flight would land soon so that we could put our bags IMG_0308 and ourselves IMG_0309 on the bus to get to Avis IMG_0310 where this gentleman IMG_0311 watched as we rented this car IMG_0312 and took the freeway IMG_0313 to see Larry IMG_0314 and Janet IMG_0315 who was incognito.

Next morning, Janet IMG_0316 was happier as I played with the computer IMG_0317 and Jane IMG_0318 acknowledged that we were in The OC IMG_0319 as we headed off to see the silos IMG_0320 and talk to Mikey IMG_0321 and the other employee IMG_0322 as we observed the silos IMG_0323 IMG_0324 and the eventual end for their contents as the pellets go into the hopper IMG_0325 and up the chute IMG_0326 on their way to production. This gentleman appeared IMG_0327 as we were recording the gauges IMG_0328 and the metal machines IMG_0329 IMG_0330 that won't be around for long even as Mikey IMG_0331 feigned work and Larry IMG_0332 posed for the soccer picture while we all posed with the silos IMG_0333 to prepare us if we ever had to do a full scale protest.

Next we drove on down the highway IMG_0334 past the In-N-Out Burger IMG_0335 IMG_0336 and in the line of traffic IMG_0337 IMG_0338 past Santa Claus IMG_0339 and onward IMG_0340 IMG_0341 IMG_0342 IMG_0343 in our search for tourist information IMG_0344 through various turns IMG_0345 IMG_0346 and beyond the palm trees IMG_0347 IMG_0348 IMG_0349 IMG_0350 IMG_0351 until we found the Orange County van IMG_0352 IMG_0353 and passed through the light IMG_0354 to the first signs of Newport Beach IMG_0355 and onward IMG_0356 IMG_0357 IMG_0358 IMG_0359 IMG_0360 IMG_0361 IMG_0362 IMG_0363 IMG_0364 IMG_0365 until we saw the beach IMG_0366 IMG_0367 IMG_0368 and rounded the curve IMG_0369 to Laguna Beach IMG_0370 IMG_0371 where we parked IMG_0372 good enough for me but not good enough for the locals and pushed the button IMG_0373 to make our way IMG_0374 to the Village Mart IMG_0375 where the waiter IMG_0376 showed the way to the rest room where I got this collection sign IMG_0377 and then on to the beach IMG_0378 where we used this bench IMG_0379 to enjoy my sandwich IMG_0380 as the pelican IMG_0381 and pigeons IMG_0382 watched and wondered if the guards IMG_0383 would appear as I took this self portrait IMG_0384 and we again crossed the street behind an authentic OC hatted person IMG_0385 to make our way to the chocolate store IMG_0386 where there was a good selection IMG_0387 and lots of Sponge Bob's friends IMG_0388 as this gentleman IMG_0389 provided us with chocolate IMG_0390 you don't want to eat in the car. We said good bye to the Laguna Beach Greeter IMG_0391 IMG_0392 passed an OC sweat shirt IMG_0393 and found that there were people who felt my parking job IMG_0394 was inadequate.

We were back on the road and eventually got to San Diego for some food IMG_0395 though there seemed to be a lot of phone calling IMG_0396 IMG_0397 IMG_0398 in the air as I posed for a self portrait IMG_0399 and captured Jane IMG_0400 before she started talking on the phone IMG_0401 but this ended when we studied pictures IMG_0402 and Syl posed IMG_0403 as we looked at another picture IMG_0404 and then took the elevator IMG_0405 to Aesop's Tables where we captured the tables IMG_0406 IMG_0407 IMG_0408 the salad IMG_0409 crackers IMG_0410 Mediterranean plate IMG_0411 and chicken Caesar salad IMG_0412 before heading back to the decorations IMG_0413 with a little for Hannukah IMG_0414 and then playing cards IMG_0415 IMG_0416 until the phone rang IMG_0417 but Dan focused IMG_0418 and won as we ate more fruit IMG_0419 more chewies IMG_0420 and more brownies IMG_0421 washed down by tea IMG_0422 from these bags IMG_0423 before calling it a night.

Saturday morning, we drove tot he pancake house IMG_0424 where we had a short wait IMG_0425 IMG_0426 IMG_0427 IMG_0428 before we were seated with our tea IMG_0429 given menus IMG_0430 with the history IMG_0431 and then left to our coffee IMG_0432 hot chocolate IMG_0433 and pancake concoction IMG_0434 as the waitress took this family photo IMG_0435 and the omelette IMG_0436 and pancakes IMG_0437 arrived. We stopped at Home Depot but they had poinsettias IMG_0438 and Bonsai IMG_0439 but not what we were looking for. Then, we drove home and parked IMG_0440 and had our lunch of soup IMG_0441 IMG_0442 and cheese IMG_0443 IMG_0444 set out and served IMG_0445 as Jane IMG_0446 Syl IMG_0447 Dan IMG_0448 and I IMG_0449 admired the vegetable faces IMG_0450 IMG_0451 I made as tea IMG_0452 and oranges (brought all the way from China?) IMG_0453 were served.

Later, we drove to Trader Joe's IMG_0454 and after a few pictures IMG_0455 IMG_0456 the manager told us that we could take her picture IMG_0457 but no more pictures of the store. We drove on to Rancho Bernardo IMG_0458 and had a fine dinner with Anne, Irv, Rob and Linda IMG_0459 IMG_0460 IMG_0461 served by this waiter IMG_0462 who also took the picture of the assembled.