we have spirit

Since we are looking forward to another weekend of CGA revelry and excitement, I figured I should hurry up and get this post up so as not to inundate the masses (um, the 5 of you who read this blog) with Coast Guard spirit.

Two weekends ago the Coast Guard Academy tried its very best to impress the parents who have entrusted that fine institution with the care, education and training of their children. I have to say, when you haven't gone through the machine, you probably find such machinations of granduer impressive.

I just like to people-watch. Papa likes to support the old alma mater, and the Pup, well, he is just facinated with cadets (I am pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that they are all in uniform and tend to have pretty shiny buttons and pins; but, what do I know?).

In any case, after getting the Pup a "regulation" haircut (it's short, isn't it? Papa=1, Mama=0), we started our day at CGA bright and early by attending drill. It was the Pup's second, so he found it less thrilling than the first time, but he had a lot of questions about the man in the skirt (or the cadet in the kilt playing the bagpipes, it was funny). Also, he really likes to do the hand salute.

Here he is with his sweetheart, L (one of many, heartbreaker) doing mutual hand salutes. It's nice to know that they respect each other.

There was a soccer game.

And then there was a football game. We lost, but we cheered on the Bears like it was our job (and I suppose for one of us, it sort of was in some way).

And then we went home because at least two of us needed naps.

Stay tuned, more Coast Guard spirit coming your way soon. It is, after all, that time of the year.

More pictures? You know where they are.

i went to san francisco and i didn't get a t-shirt

(self-portrait in Japantown Center)

At the end of last month I took a solo trip to San Francisco to attend a conference for work. Classes had already started for the Papa Seal so he managed the homefront with the Seal Pup while I flew the coop. I missed my boys, but I have to honest, I had a really good time.

with knitblogging friends Risa and Rangsiwan

In addition to the whole professional development thing (which, admittedly was the purpose for said trip), I was able to meet up with knitbloggers that I have "known" for the last 2 years but I never really met (with the excpetion of 2 of them).

knitbloggers before the great Thai chowdown

I got a chance to hang out with my friend K who I saw in May and June, but whose company I never tire of.

taken after a REALLY good meal

I went to Chinatown with a colleague/library school friend, J, and we did a lot of shopping. (That's what Papa said when I came home and gave him receipts, "oh, you did a lot of shopping.") It was fun.

there are 3 bajillion shops like this one in a one mile stretch of road

Oh, and I ate.

lunch at Samovar Tea Lounge (right across the street from Imagiknit)

A lot.

pastry display at Tartine Bakery

With gusto, even.

ice cream consumption at Mitchell's

While I was gone, Papa and the Pup finished up their renovation project. They turned our old family room into a craft room.


Optimistically, I wish I could say it was done simply out of kindness; but, I think the real reason was that Papa Seal was tired of seeing all mechanations of craft spread out thoughout the house.


I sort of have a lot of stuff. Kind of.


Also, Papa Seal really wanted to try his hand at installing laminate flooring (the tile was kind of driving him nuts).


Obviously, the Pup helped too.


I won't question it, I now have a whole room dedicated to craft, all is right in the world.

And since I just realized that I failed to make mention of another project in development...um, here is a picture of Seal Pup 2.0. The Pup is very excited for you to know about his little brother, joining us in December (on the 2nd around 8:45 a.m. EST, to be more specific).

More San Francisco pics in the usual place.

we missed the dnc by thismuch

To those who are certain we have wandered somewhere in the last two months, you would be right. Long time no travel reports on our end. Apologies, we have been a little busy. Before I launch into tales of busy-ness (um, excuses), I thought I'd share some wandering we did at the end of July (I know). We went to Colorado for a weekend. It was, awesome.

We flew into the Denver airport and spent the evening getting aclimated to the altitude. When we travel, the Pup likes to get his stretch on by doing yoga poses (he has excellent form, R this shot is for your mom!).

The purpose of our trip to Colorado was a wedding of a high school friend of mine.

The wedding was in Breckenridge; and, it was a great place to have or attend a wedding (unless you suffer from altitude sickness, which I did). The scenery is stunning. And Breckenridge is a fun town. And there is a Continental Divide that you can dress up to visit, if that is your thing.

Since we were going to be "in the area" (or rather, the same state) we decided to take a "quick side trip" to Colorado Springs for another academic institution photo op with the Pup, the US Air Force Academy, the pup is a fan.

Clearly.

And since you can't go there and not get a picture with the chapel as a background...

For those family and friendly types that want to see more pictures, you know where to find them (click on the link, mom).

We'll do a couple of "things here" updates soon (there is a little matter of a missing camera to contend with, but it's bound to be around here somewhere). We are, as they say, back in the saddle.

california dreaming

Since the end of July is nearly upon us...how about some tales of California travels from June?

I had a conference to attend in LA toward the end of last month, so we decided to take the whole family and call it vacation (we do this a lot, in case you haven't noticed a trend here). We had some good times in the southern part of California, mostly because we got to see family again. And there are some people who are into the whole beach thing (I am not one of them--odd for a seal, I know; but, there you are).

We had a chance to take the Pup sailing for the first time. For people who know me and the Papa Seal, I don't have to go into what a big deal this was for us.

And, also we got a chance to see Shamu at Seaworld; the Pup is, clearly, a fan.

And then of course there was the Mouse's House (um, his summer home?).

A place for both the young and the young at heart. Whatever, the hats were free.

I was able to see a friend from undergrad days, I hadn't seen J in 9 years so it was fun to get together; also, she owns rabbits--clearly this is what set the parameter for "fun" for the Pup.

And then I went solo to my conference which was sited at a hotel as well as The Getty (a great place to have a conference, by the way). It shall never be said that special collections librarians do not know how to rock (well, it'll probably be said; but not by anyone in "the know").

After three days of dialoging about rare books in the digital world, the boys picked me up and we explored LA. The Pup cheered on the Bruins--sure he does this at whatever college or university is local to our travels; but I thought this shot especially winning (anyone in the public affairs department at UCLA should feel free to contact me about marketing, heh).

We found a place for me to buy fiber related goods (the Pup also likes to peruse).

And then we said goodbye to California and came home. It was a good trip.

There are a ridiculous number of photographs in flickr of this whole excursion. You will probably care more about them if you are related to us or we saw you in California during this trip. But of course, there are some good shots of the Pup looking cute (none showing him throwing tantrums as these are moments best left uncaptured for the ages).

Next report...Colorado.

annapolis & philly, woot!

Some of you are probably wondering where the California pictures (and post are), they are coming. Honestly. But one (you) should find it humurous that my idea of a flurry has become akin to the speed of a trickle. In any case, since I seem to be a month behind on my posts, let's talk June. At the beginning of June (yes, that's last month for those keeping score) Papa Seal had a seminar to attend on a very scintillating topic concerning something related to some form of engineering--or possibly navigation in Annapolis, MD. The Pup and I let him go it alone for the first part of the week as we had things to do (um work and school). On the last day of his seminar, the Pup and I took the train down to Baltimore to meet up with the fatherly unit. It was the pups first train trip and he had a great time. All I am going to say is, six hours on a train with a 2 year old is a very long time (my lack of pictures is evidence of the fun he had, sigh).

Papa met us in Baltimore and we headed back to Annapolis, we ate dinner and then went to sleep to recharge for a flurry (a real one, this time) of activity the next day which involved the following:

a trip to the United States Naval Academy (um, go goats!?)

where Papa thought it would be fun to visit a "secured area" so the Pup could be entertained (those are my boys, risk takers);

and then we hopped in the car and drove to Philadelphia, home of liberty. Before doing anything historically related, I (obviously) had to get my fiber fix in. We went to the trendy and boutique-y yarn shop, loop;

and then found our way to Rosie's Yarn Cellar where the Seal Pup (aka Little Sir" was spotted by store staff. I consider it an honor that they let him play with the Koigu mill ends, which involved making a snake of Koigu (that would be luxury merino, people) on the floor.
Of course there was also a trip to the new Philly fabric store, Spool (a very sweet shop, I bought stuff);
And then there was dinner. We went to a place called the Melting Pot. It's a fondue place, apparently it's a romantic place...when you don't take a 2 year old (just saying). I think it's also just an unusual place to take kids, but our philosophy is, if you don't plan to serve kids, don't offer the option of high chair seating (not that we use it anymore, but there you are).
After a good night's sleep (and sleeping in)We found our way to the Liberty Bell at the Independence National Historic Park (this would be the real reason we ventured to Philly in the first place). Where we realized that the Pup's excitement about historica landmarks will only last so long when we saw the rows of bored teenage boys waiting for the rest of their families to view history. Oh, well.
More picture from the trip in flickr, as per our usual way of doing things. California pictures coming soon. Really.