Cabin Adventure 2019 Day One (CA19-01)

Brain cancer is...

 ...glad that Cabin Adventure Day One came to a close.

The two-hour drive took us almost five hours, but we made it to Big Bear today.  Maybe today's post should be called misadventures?

Our travels went smoothly until we were at the base of the mountain and we realized we didn't have the cabin keys. Anything else we could have improvised.  Not keys.  So back we went to Fullerton.

Back on track!  We were, that is, until we got about 10 miles up the mountain and we realized that Highway 18 is closed due to rock slides.  We were....

...rerouted.

We actually laughed about our misadventures.  Zach was correct when he said that it's fitting that a cabin adventure should begin with a memorable day. 

Taking Highway 38 instead gave us a chance to appreciate different views.  We wouldn't have seen these views if we hadn't.

The view immediately above is standing on the Stanfield Cutoff, facing east.  (The topmost picture in the post is at the same spot, facing west.)  Look!  The marsh is marshy! 

We hope that any of your misadventures were laughable today too, Team D.

Let's call it a day.

Wednesday Friday

Brain cancer is...

 ...just going crazy with the days of the week lately.

We leave for the cabin tomorrow, so today was Wednesday Friday: time with Gordon then LuAnn.  We solve so many problems of the world together with our parents on these days.

But Darrell, LuAnn, and open flame all together?  The risk factor seems high.

Darrell appreciated the subtle beauty of the sky tonight, in contrast with with all the heavenly drama lately.

Happy Wednesday Friday, Team D., or whatever day it is on your calendar today!

Let it Snow.

Brain cancer is...

...checking pockets, as of now.  

After our Sunday Monday, it was back to work with us.  Andi had appointments. Darrell worked hard at home.  For example, Darrell did laundry.  Above is the fallout from our colds:  Kleenex going through the wash.  Let it snow!

Bonus Content

Just how hard did Darrell work today, you're wondering.  Here's his done to-do list.

Yes, it's blurry.  You have to pay extra for the legible version.  It's a long list for sure, though, right?

We hope your list was just the right length today, Team D!

Sunday Monday

Brain cancer is...

 ...taking a do-over day.

Because we slept through much of Sunday, we took a do-over day today.  It's our Sunday Monday.  

Our most significant achievement is that we walked a couple hours at Yorba Regional Park.  We saw 18 turtles, all at once.

The pic, above, captures 15 of them (we think), but really there were 18.  That's an accomplishment because (a) we've not seen turtles at Yorba Park before, and (b) We've never seen so many turtles at once...anywhere. Eighteen turtles is a lot of turtles.

Our work here is done.  Happy Sunday Monday!

Oh, Okay, Great Blue Heron, Here's a Picture of You.

The above great blue heron really wanted its picture taken.  It tracked our walk, flying from lake to lake, posing.  Here you go, Great Blue Heron.  Too bad you're not as interesting as the turtles.

Darrell’s Day of Rest

Brain cancer is...

...chillin’.

Ryan and Charlene treated us to a great morning at Fullerton Brew Company.

Then Darrell admitted to himself that people with a cold should maybe rest.  

This is Darrell’s day of rest.

It’s also a good day to appreciate.

“Admire as much as you can.  Most people do not admire enough.”
—Vincent Van Gogh 

Saturday with Charlene and Ryan

Brain cancer is...

...enjoying family.

At least once per year we have the pleasure of hanging out with Ryan and Charlene here in Fullerton.

This year...that day is this day.

Quote of the day goes to Charlene: “Hey. If you want something fun to do, Orange County Sanitation Department offers free tours!”

Happy Saturday Team D!

Catching Up

Brain cancer is..

 ...catching up.

We enjoyed the chance to be with Gordon then LuAnn today.  They had much news.  Gordon had work done in his attic.

And LuAnn got some sporty new wheels.

We close the day with a movie party at the Mayfields.

Hurrah for Friday!

Why Is Everything so Novel Today?

Brain cancer is...

....having lots of novel experiences today.

Yesterday was all about nice.  Today is all about novel.  The whole day has had fun, new things happen.  

We'll just share some examples from our walk at Yorba Regional.

1.  We needed to double-jacket...at 1 p.m.

2.  We think we found Van Gogh's actual pear tree.  See?

 3.  Darrell spotted a new duck for us, a Bufflehead.

 4.  We hung out with this happy guy, a Bouvier des Flandres.

 Novel things...how nice!

Why Is Everyone so Nice Today?

Brain cancer is...

...experiencing high levels of kindness.

You’ve probably heard us comment on how often we come across genuine and genuinely nice people in Life 2.0.  That continues.  For example, on our coastal trip we met wonderful people who shared their stories and embraced ours.  But somehow that seems expected on such a milestone trip.

Today was just an ordinary day, and people were...nice!  Here are four examples of strangers behaving nicely. 

1. At Target, we couldn't find a product.  A Target employee (aka, a kid) stopped what he was doing to help us look up the product online to determine the best way to obtain it.  Then he made great eye contact and genuinely wished us a good day.  We wanted to call his parents and congratulate them.
2. At the self-checkout line, we met another Target kid. Without needing to be asked, he helped us ensure that we received our bonus gift card and changed the paper when the machine didn't print our receipt. He also provided authentic wishes for a happy day.  He also deserved a call to parents.
3. Next we went to Ralph's.  Before Andi could hop out to move the shopping cart that stopped us from pulling up all the way, another customer pulled it out of the way, waved to us, and kept on walking.  He wasn't even a Ralph's kid! Or a Target kid!
4. Before entering the store?  More niceness!  A man using a wheelchair smilingly told the woman who was looking to pull out of her parking place, foot on the brake, waiting for him to pass, "No, please!  Go ahead!  I'm not working today.  I have all the time in the world!"  

All this human consideration for others seemed to equal the striking skies we've had lately. 

Also in abundance today?  Beautiful blooming white trees (example above).  They are all over town.  We think they are pears (yes, Mom?).

Today was like living in a Van Gogh painting.

Van Gogh's Small Pear Tree in Blossom (1888)

And it's raining some more now.  Nice!

Darrell emotes.

Brain cancer is...

...skilled at emoting.  

Some days—like today—the dots just connect themselves.

Dot One: Andi subscribes to Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day.  Today’s word of the day is emote.

To emote is “to give expression to emotion, especially in acting.”

Dot Two:  Andi is fortunate for the opportunity to pursue a couple passion projects, even in retirement. Here’s our conversation on Andi’s way out the door to a meeting this morning:

Andi: Hey, Darrell! Look! Your wife’s a career girl.

Darrell: Oh...Nooooo.

Here’s the visual. 

Darrell emotes.

Tuesday’s dots? Connected!

Stay warm, loved ones!

Always Perfecting His Skills

Brain cancer is...

...always seeking to improve skills.

We felt well enough rested today that we passed the couch and headed for the park. 

Darrell worked on perfecting his metallurgic life hack, the can smash.

This attempt at a new skill worked so well...

 Click here for alternate video link.

...that upon arrival home, Darrell worked on the next level:

 Click here for alternate video link.

We call that a successful day:  One new skill mastered, one in the works. 

Please, if you try this at home, pace yourself.  Start with the single can smash, step only, no hop.  Greatness is not achieved in one day.

Happy Monday, Team D.!

Couch Day

Brain cancer is....

...spending the day on the couch.

Upon arrival home today,  we mostly rested.  In some moments of activity, Darrell appreciated, above, that rain fell through sun shine.  He happened to be in the backyard headed to take out the trash, the first time in a month, given our adventures.  Well done, Darrell!

Maybe we’ll spend another day on the couch tomorrow.

“Getting away from the old grind”

Brain cancer is...

  

... “getting away from the old grind.”

Clever, Darrell!  He has been at work too long, so he needed a break today.  (Ha ha)  Down south to Temecula we went.  We spent the day with Geoff and Beth.

We hope that the skies you saw were as beautiful as ours!

Home Again

Brain cancer is...

 

...back home.

This morning we sneaked in one more scenic drive by taking Highway 1 from Oxnard to Santa Monica. Above you see Point Mugu.

Every day of this vacation was wonderful.  Thanks for traveling with us.  Here's a brief video conclusion to the trip. 

Click here for the alternate video link. 

One last vacation video:  We updated the Pismo Beach post with a video.  Here's the link.

More great news!  

We made it home in time for...Christmas!

Hallie, Andi, and Ruth kept the holiday Cookie Bake tradition going.  We think this was Cookie Bake #27.  Our kids participated virtually through texting.  Way to stretch out the holiday season, right?  Christmas in February?

Happy Holiday Every Day, Team D!

Happy Valentines Day!

Brain cancer is...

...wishing you every furry, adorable thing today!

On this last day of Darrell's three-year anniversary trip, we had a wondrous walk in Morro Bay and then headed back down to Channel Islands Harbor for a Valentines date with Brady and Linda.  Wonderful!

We head home in the morning.  Thanks for joining us on this amazing trip, Team D.  Happy Valentines Day to you and everyone you love!

Here's the day in video:

Click here for alternate YouTube Video Link

Goodbye Monterey Bay. Hello Morro Bay!

Brain cancer is...

...happy to be in Morro Bay.

Here’s the video.

Click here for YouTube Link.

What? Another great vacation day?
Yay, Morro Bay!

Moments in Monterey

Brain cancer is...

...satisfied with our time in Monterey.

At the end of each day, Darrell and I like to reflect on memorable moments.  At dinner, Darrell's reflections for today included:

• Holding hands for the sunrise
• Watching two rafts of sea otters from our balcony
• Breakfast in our room
• Visiting the Monterey Aquarium, including seeing a kelp forest from below
• Lunch at the Aquarium
• More Aquarium
• Dinner out, his choice
• Sunset in our room.

 So, basically, everything we did today Darrell put on his "memorable moments" list.

Therefore, here's a video of memorable moments, no commentary.  (No commentary other than that of the 2 million school kids experiencing the wonder of the world, that is.)

Click here for Animoto video link.

Tomorrow we turn back south, to Morro Bay.


Cheers to the vacation that just keeps going!

New Twists on a Classic Tradition

Brain cancer is...

...celebrating the fourth annual Great American Chip off in Monterey.  

February 11 is the day of the Guillaume tradition, the Great American Chip off (click here for the link to the first annual if you'd like a refresher).  Today is the fourth annual chip off.

We are fortunate for so many reasons.  Number one on the "fortunate list" today is that we are doing any "annual" thing for the fourth time post Darrell's diagnosis.  

Our fortunate list is very long.  Also on the list is today's new twist on our chip off tradition.  We ate tortilla chips dressed up as lobster nachos as we watched sea otters play in the bay.

Lunch was chip off round one.  In case we can possibly eat anything more after lobster nachos, Darrell has round two set up for tasting.

You might notice that almost all of our choices for today are baked.  Yeah, like that makes up for lobster nachos!   

Don't worry if you didn't get chips for today.  We'll bring these home and share them with you for sure.

Today's Travels North

The drive up Highway 1 from Big Sur to Monterey was clear and beautiful.  That is one big ocean!  Monterey is our northernmost point.  We're here for a couple nights.

Here are a couple pics from our room, our walk to Lovers Point in the next town over, Pacific Grove, and lunch.

We're back to the world of high speed internet, so here's a video of the day.

 Click here  for the alternate YouTube link.

Happy chip off!  Happy Monterey Monday!  And thanks for figuring prominently on our fortunate list!

Big Sur Sunday: Just Sittin' Around

Viewer advisory:  Limited internet?  We succumb. No movie.  Many images instead.

Brain cancer is...

...just sittin' around.  See?

Just sitting around? Not.

Mom, you were right about the power of an editor.  Here are some of the missing details from the Big Sur Sunday story.

After our private dining breakfast experience (above), we headed north.  We saw more ho hum (not!) views, including that of Bixby Bridge and the falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park. 

 We hiked in Pfeiffer Big Sur Park, the Valley View Trail.

What about  "straight up" says "valley view" to you?

Oh that!  The view at the top?  A valley.  Plus ocean.

Lunch was at Nepenthe.  (Good call, Terri.)

Back home, we strapped on a new sort of energy pack.  (Good call, Christine and Lennie.)

Last dinner in Big Sur.  Hard to beat the view.  Or the company.

On to Monterey in the morning.

We hope you spent your Sunday sitting around too, Team D.

Updated 2/11/19:  The Video