Universal

          Louisa has a nephew who works at Universal and was able to get us for passes at no cost to us.  That was amazing!  We parked in a VIP area and were able to walk passed the lines of those waiting to get into the park.  I felt like we were getting a royal treatment – something I had never experienced before.  That was pretty awesome.

         Southern California – perhaps the entire state – was experiencing a heat wave.  It was 115 degrees out!  Holy cow!  Universal had set up tons of cooling stations with fans blowing mist over the many patrons in attendance. We had entered the park via Simpsons and so had gone on the Simpson ride to start.  I really did not care about the rides at all.  I was so grateful that Sam had joined us and willingly went on anything or anywhere Jaime would take them to. 

         They were exploring Harry Potter when Richard and I decided that we needed to eat.  I don’t even remember what we had – chicken, I think.  Apple cider, apple pie.  It was good but very crowded.  We met up with the girls a few times, but mostly they did their own thing while Richard and I waited – trying our best to stay out of the heat. 

         Richard did want to go on Jurassic Park – which none of the rest of us even cared about.  It was definitely the longest line – and it wasn’t even packed to overflowing.  But I really didn’t think it was worth the wait.  More important for me that I find a bathroom.  I left the line and headed on a rather unique journey (which I will post tomorrow) and after a while Richard left leaving Sam and Jaime to ride it on their own. 

We had ridden the tram together and I think the girls enjoyed that.  We left the park about three hours before it closed, but took in a stunt show before we left. Except for the heat, I think it was a good experience for all.

Pictures at the Start of Traveling

          As it has been over 50 days since our journey begin I don’t recall all the details.  Jaime took these pictures on the way to Modesto – or at our lodging.  We past lots of olive groves.

Labor Day Deja Vu

I was searching through various posts in search for specific memories of Universal Studios.  I was floored when I came across one labeled Labor Day Weekend in which the first line reads Roland said he wanted to take Jenna to Universal this weekend

The date read September 1 – that is when we left the house this year – when did I write that?  Apparently it was a thought that had existed in 2019 which became a reality this year – only it wasn’t on a Sunday that we left.  It was on a Thursday.  We drove to Modesto, California – which I had believed was a halfway point to Monterey Park.  It wasn’t.  It was so out of the way that it proved my point about why I don’t like making reservations.  We should have just looked for something in Sacramento.  Modesto was such a waste of driving and the pool was closed. 

VERY contaminated pool

We continued our drive to LA – another gamble in industrial area that didn’t appear to be a safe part of town.  The pool was open however – but it would have been nice to have known that Jack and Louisa had something available for us that night.  I will certainly do it differently if ever the opportunity arises again.

So it seems like Richard was gung-ho about getting Jaime to Universal for at least the last three years.  We had watched a YouTube video just right before her graduation.  He still wanted to take her to Universal but neither Jaime nor I wanted to go – at least right then.  We changed our minds when we learned that Disneyland decks out for Halloween just before Labor Day.  It was a late graduation/last-hoorah-before-college excursion. 

We’d taken Jaime’s friend, Sam.  Did Universal on Saturday, spent Sunday with Jack and Louisa and family.  Checked in the Disneyland hotel on Sunday night and went to Disneyland on Monday – Labor Day.  I was hoping to hit San Francisco on the way home as neither Jaime or Richard (or even Sam for that matter) had been there before, 

https://gayldsactor.blogspot.com/search?q=San+francisco

but Richard was quite tired from driving.  We went home early.  Jaime unpacked and repacked and we took her to Ashland on the 9^th (our Wedding anniversary – which we have yet to celebrate) and started emptying out Jaime’s room and the office to make way for Biff and his little family. 

So I need to post the details of that trip – at least three days worth.  And I have some other thoughts that hopefully will come out as my posting has been more sporadic and I think I lost my following – not that it’s important that anyone is following.  I have referred to it a lot for journaling purposes.  It has been an interesting journey.

A Child's Prayer

 Ally said the prayer to bless the food.  Biff started out helping her but she took off with it on her own.  She did a good job. I was impressed.  I was amazed that she actually ate all that was on her plate without complaining.

Introduction to Family Home Evening

 We ate dinner as a family and I asked if it would be okay to do a family home evening each week.  I really would like to know these three extra people who are now a part of our household.  We know OF them but don't feel a connection to them.  And so I introduced Define Your Dash and answered only one question and asked if we could do at least one per week.  

https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/define-your-dash-start-
writing-your-personal-history-with-the-52stories-project

After we each answered the question Ally and Clair started a game of "Never Have I Ever".  We each started out with five fingers but within six questions three of us had only one finger left, Clair had two and Ally had three.  She said she had never been to Disneyland which made the rest of us go out.  

Ally drew with markers while the rest of us played a few rounds of Blokus.  Could be the start of something positive.

Slowly Progressing

 For the first time since they moved in, we sat down last night - all five of us.  We watched "Under the Wraps" which was hilarious.  Ally sat between her parents and watched the entire thing.  No electronics.  It was great.

This morning Roland and I took Bonnie for a walk.  They were leaving as we returned home.  Ally seemed happy to see us.  She commented on the shirt I have on.

Focus on the Positive

 Clean Shower

I suspect cleaner than we moved in

Clair did an excellent job

Biff cleaned the tops of the washer

and dryer

He organized the cupboards

and cleaned the kitchen sink

He makes the best quesadillas

He gives Bonnie baths 

and combs her down