ON THE WAY TO POINT REYES TO PHOTOGRAPH THE LIGHTHOUSE

01 Oct 2010 11 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Sightseeing In California

This is the coveted photo you spend two days on the road hoping to capture.  When you get there, it can be so windy you have to hold on for dear life.  Or the fog can be so thick it blots out the view entirely. The day we got to the spot for this perfect photo of the lighthouse, it was 100 degrees and clear as a bell. Now just imagine triple digits next to the coast in Northern California and imagine hot, hot, hot. As you will come to see, it was a blessed day.

As you start out on your journey for the perfect Point Reyes Lighthouse photo you have to travel through Marin County, and since you must travel across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, I thought that you would like to see  perfectly fog free photos of the bridge. More

THE TEA PARTY

21 Sep 2010 4 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Entertaining, Family Activities, Social Events

THE TEA PARTY:  SEPTEMBER 19, 2010

Sometimes a party just clicks and it is spectacular from the conception of the idea to the planning stages as well as the event itself. This was one of those magical gatherings of the clan.

Musings: You have an idea that you haven’t used your collection of gorgeous teacups since the major earthquake in 1994 when you gathered them from the broken mess of so much clatter and clutter. You must have a tea party so you can use and enjoy the ones you saved that day. Okay, but what does as traditional English Tea Party, entail?  It entails research. This was the birth of our Tea Party. By the way having an elegant tea party is very fashionable once again.

Get ready: First of all the tea is the star of the event, surrounded by dainty cucumber sandwiches, as well as sandwiches lightly buttered and topped with egg. Another popular tea sandwich is ham and watercress. Cream cheese is used in many combinations to craft and create fun tasty tea sandwiches. To make proper sandwiches, you have to have very thin bread minus the crusts. More

Direct me to a Human. Please!!

15 Sep 2010 9 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Customer Sevice, Reflections, Trials and Tribulations



Direct me to a Human: Please!

You know how many times you have had to push buttons on the phone and how long it takes to finally get to a human voice. I do, too. It happens more and more lately and the questions they ask are way too numerous. More and more I am losing touch with having human contact. I am worried about the state of this happening especially in progressive top leading countries.

Busy running in circles doing things I think need to be done, I think to myself, what if I had lost my mind and none of these things would be getting done. Then, I think, perhaps, so what?  Instead of dwelling, I began to complete the rest of the tasks I have intended. I plugged in the flights to Texas and to Calgary using my aging, but still trustworthy computer. No human contact.  Why do I mention no human contact when I am just making reservations for flights to and from for both cities? More

Dear Granddaughter #1,

31 Aug 2010 5 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Growing Up, Letters, Purchases and Shopping, Quotes

Dear Granddaughter #1,

I think it is time for another Grandma letter.  This is an important one to me because I have so many ideas to tell. I hope you are well and comfortable with all that is going on in your world and the worlds around you.

First of all, when I call you, please sound a little joyful. Even if you do not think I am the greatest, make me think you think I am and make me think you are glad to hear from me. Why not? What does a little cheerful sound and a lovely lilt to your voice cost you? Nothing. It is also good practice.  Sounding cheerful always gives the person on the other end of your conversation a good, happy, feeling. I know you are not responsible for the way others feel, but you are responsible to be cheerful as much of the time as humanly possible. It is good for your electrolytes. It is something good.
More

The Phone Call from the Washington State Police

27 Aug 2010 3 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Trials and Tribulations

A phone call came in yesterday afternoon from the police department in Bellingham, which I was told, but already knew, is located in the state of Washington. The officer introduced herself with such rapidity that I hardly understood a word she was saying.

When she asked who I was, and I said, “ Well, who are you?’

She said, “I just told you”

I replied, “You spoke so fast I did not understand you.”

“I am officer Greene from the police department in Washington State.”

“Oh.”

“We have a complaint that some teenage boys are making lewd remarks to people using this number.”

Right away the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up.  I said, “Officer, this is a serious accusation and I want you to know we are an elderly couple and there are no teenage boys in our life.” More

What I Did on My Summer Vacation: Great Travelers on a Marvelous Adventure

18 Aug 2010 3 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in International Travels

After every summer vacation, I remember having to write a paper, essay, composition or whatever you want to call it on: What I did on My Summer Vacation. Even though I do not have to write and or correct papers anymore, I still want to write about what I did on my summer vacation. It is a tradition and a habit, so…this summer we took our daughter and our granddaughter on a trip to Europe.

I am reminded why summer travel is so different from other times when kids are in school and mom and pop are working. Crowds. Huge enormous crowds everywhere hurrying from one spot to another. Lines, lines, lines. The street corners are 10 and 20 deep. If you wish to see an attraction, like the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace you literally have to be 6ft. 5 tall or more and have very good eyesight for distance. The lines for attractions snake around for blocks and blocks.
More

Reporting on the Meringue cookies at: LA CRÈME BAKERY

27 Jul 2010 2 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Food and Restaurant Experiences

I have searched the world over for the best meringue cookies. I have made finding the best, most wonderful meringues in the world, a mission. I have searched, hunted, explored and investigated the meringue cookie topic. No, I did not search the whole wide world, but I looked in many nooks and crannies as well as big cities for the delights of a wonderful no fat, meringue cookie. I was looking for the kind you have to slowly bake for hours, the ones that melt in your mouth and whittle down to nothing but yum.

Some cookies are too hard and some are too flakey and some just have too little or no flavor. Some that look really good fool you the most.  The kind you get in the little clear plastic boxes get old quickly and there is nothing more unpleasant about a cookie than having it taste old.

At the La Crème Bakery I found the treasure I have been looking for forever. More

We Are Leaving Thursday for Amsterdam: My Writings from the Last Airport Waiting Room

26 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by Sheila Clapkin in International Travels

Dear God,

We leave Thursday for Amsterdam and my mind is filled with memories of the last time we flew.

Get me out of here. I can’t stand it. Maybe if I just close my eyes it will be less stressful. I can’t shut out my ears. I tried, but somehow all of my senses are screaming to see, hear, and feel. I spent many years unraveling what I learned, replacing it with new learning, re-learning, re-programming and re-hashing, getting the wrong, right and now I want it straight like it is, but this is unexpected.  I was taught constructive ways to relieve the stress, but I have to tell you all of us here are on over load.

I am in an airport waiting room. The television is blasting with enough snow to cover a mountain range in the Alps.  The lady next to me on the right has been coughing for the past 5 hours. Some of kids are sleeping on the floors leaving small snaking pathways to and from the restrooms. The ones that are not sleeping are whining, screaming and driving everyone around them crazy, especially the harried and tired parent/s.  I just want them to shut up. Hey, just for five minutes. More

“Natives” Are Home from our Tour in Santa Barbara

21 Jul 2010 7 Comments

by Sheila Clapkin in Day Trips, Food and Restaurant Experiences, Sightseeing In California

When we talk about Natives on Tour, the natives consist of our whole family. We get along great, usually, and enjoy going on tour with each other. There are many adventures and experiences that can only be taught by going on tour. Come with us next time. Got any good ideas for the next tour?

We are home from our lovely Natives on Tour in Santa Barbara.  Did we go to the museums? Yes. Did we go to the Zoo? Yes we did and we enjoyed the grounds almost as much as seeing the penguin feeding, the giraffes, the flamingos, the gorillas, the huge guinea pigs, the lion, the elephants and visiting amongst ourselves.  Did we get to the Mission, no not this time?  Did we go to Sterns Wharf, drive on the wharf, and hang around watching the fisherman, buy candy and shop? Yes, we did.   Did we do the whole State Street thing from the Museum of Art to Cabrillo BLVD.? Yes we did.
More

Today’s Bits and Pieces: It is Your Choice

21 Jul 2010 Leave a comment

by Sheila Clapkin in Reflections

My daughter received a lovely gold and ruby watch as an inheritance.  She said every time she put it on, she felt bad luck surrounding her.  Subsequently, her sister borrowed it and felt equally surrounded with bad vibes.

One day, I saw the glittering watch was lying on my daughter’s dresser.  I put it on and felt inspired, hopeful, warm and friendly.  I asked to borrow the watch for a few days and was granted my request.

During my visit with this watch, I can’t say there are such things as vibes housed in inanimate objects or that truly, I/we would feel good or badly towards anything other than what we set out to feel.  What is lucky for some is absolutely the opposite than for others. The power here is in the thought and the belief.

In wearing this watch, I have set out to observe the truth as I see and feel it.  So far, I have been able to observe that there are near tragedies every which way you turn and equally near opportunities for good to  happen.  My observations are that you have to choose what you want to do, to see, and feel and whether it is on the good side or on the bad.

Today the watch is hidden in the back of a drawer among receipts of paid bills.

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries