West Point Parent Weekend, October 2016

So finally we are off to West Point parent weekend.  It is frantic getting things ready for the trip, and I pack early, as last time forgot a whole bunch of stuff, but I ended up forgetting the vitamins.  We fly out of LAX into EWR, Newark, as it was the cheapest.  We drove to SBCHC had a Thank your volunteer day, so KR and I stopped on the way to airport.  We decided it was easier for Lovely to drive home from there and we would take Uber.  The food was mainly finger food so KR had to stop at Wendy's before the Uber driver picked us up.  I tell him it is credit card only, and he does not listen and asks how we are suppose to pay after we get out.  That man.

The flight is at 8 54 and we settle and I put eye shade on and go to sleep, as I knew it would be so early when we arrive.  RED eye flight is terrible.  I also used ear plugs, which helped alot.  We land at 5 am and nap in the Hertz terminal for about an hour, as I did not want to drive in the dark.  So when it got a little lighter, we went on our way.  WAZE is an amazing app, and we stopped at a deli for a sandwich when KR got hungry.  The line for parent ID was soooooooo long, at the visitor center.  the guy told us to go to Cullum Hall, so we did but the line there was even longer so we came back down.  Got our passes, and went up the two gates.  It was raining, lightly.  We got these ponchos and my broken umbrella.  We toured the soup's resident, and waited for Will to be out of school.

We go see the Chinese teacher who turned out to be a white guy, as Will wanted to major in Chinese.  We are hoping he signs up for the March trip to Asia.

He finally came out at about 5 and it was really nice to see him.  We had some free food, there was this BBQ as he lagged and did not get us the Friday night meal ticket we wanted, nor the Sunday brunch. We then toured the mess cooking area under the mess hall, as it was one of the tours we can see. It was so interesting how they bake and cook so much food everyday for over 4000 kids.  We were impressed.

We checked into the Fairbridge Inn, room 103.  Terrible bed, ugly bathroom, lousy carpet.  Never again.  Lights out, we are suppose to meet him at 7 30 for the simulation room visit.

Next morning, quick breakfast and text Will.  No response so we go up to Washington Hall, to the simulation room by ourselves and shot a bunch, great fun.  He never responded, said he never heard his alarm.  It was still raining, so the parade and the parachuters were canceled, but the football game was still going on.  He had to go, as everyone has to go to the game if you are a plebe.  We didn't want to go to the game, so we drove around, took the bus to the PX and bought some souvenirs, and checked out the white sheets.  Will has not washed his sheets in over two months.  He had the sheet tied down under his mattress so that he does not have to make his bed for inspection and they were BROWN.  Yikes, and YUCK YUCK.  Well, he is his own man, but we did spurge and bought him two sets of extra long, only 10 bucks each.  Pretty cheap.

He finally responded to our text about dinner saying something that he is still in trouble and cannot come out.  We go get food at Bear Mountain pizza, and bring back to Grant Hall and Will comes and eats with us.  He goes home and we go to sleep.

Sunday morning we go tour the Seven Lake area, as he is not up.  Then we go eat brunch.  IT WAS FREEEEEEE  Somehow no one was checking if anyone paid, and we were able to eat in the mess hall.  The food was eggs, sausage, potatoes, quiche, and we were late enough we missed the fish. Will told us about all the things he had to do as a plebe, like yell Fire in the Hole if he had to open a new peanut butter jar, and he had to walk the walls in the dorm, and so many little things that the plebes have to do.  But he seems to be enjoying it.  We hope he has a best friend, and will handle the stress of WP.

After brunch we take him shopping, and we were on our way.  We drove into Long Island, and onto Fire Island, and saw the pools on the island and the light house.  By then we were pretty tired, so we stopped at the Best Western Bar Harbour, nice room.  Next morning, quick breakfast, into NYC.  We were up north of Central Park, in Harlem.  CANNOT find a place to park.  Finally we found one and started our Citibike excursion.  It was a little chili, and we toured Central Park.  What a beautiful day. We then drove down to 63rd, and Riverside Park, and took out bikes and stopped at High Line park.  Had a piece of pizza at Artichoke Pizza and drove into New Jersey, where we stayed at Great Western Robert Treat.  The front desk lady was really rude.  The room was on 14th floor.  NICE view.

Early morning we had breakfast and dropped of rental car.  The flight was delayed and we finally left at 11 30 (not 11), and when we came in, we took the No 8 bus into town, and I asked Rocky to pick us up.  It was good to be home.  Lovely had left for Rancho Bernardo about 12 30.

Parent Weekend 2016 Berkeley

So we decided last minute, sort of, to go to Kurt's parent weekend.  KR had jury duty calls the whole week, and he called every night at 5 and was told not to report in.  Thursday he calls me saying that Angela was in labor and Greg wanted to know if KR can work for him on Friday.  I reminded him that there is jury duty and we won't know til the office is closed to see if he has to report.  Susan Rhlinger told KR that not to call too early, like maybe 9 PM is good as if there are others that call early, he will not have to report.  Greg decided to cancel all patients for Friday, and KR didn't have to report.

We packed up and got everything ready and left about 10 30, half an hour after we had hoped.  We did not stop at Harris' Ranch.  It was too expensive, and besides, it was still hot in Central Valley and we didn't want to leave Gracie.  We got to Pleasanton and Warren texted us to come to his office to get the keys.  We turned around, and then he text to say that he is getting off early, so we turned around again.  Got to his house about 6, and Caroline came home about 6 30.  We went out to a Bermese restaurant and it was very good and very interesting.  BUT it was so late.

Next morning, we had coffee and drove up to pick up Kurt.  We were suppose to be there at 8 but didnt make it til 8 30.  Kurt looked good, and we proceeded to drive to Crissy Field in San Francisco.

There were many dogs, and Gracie had a great time.

                                                  

Then it was onward to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Next was the drive out to Golden Gate Park, where the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass concert was going on.Went to the hotel, which was Motel 6 and on Geary, where drug alley can be found.  We went out to eat at Marine Club while Kurt slept.  

                                                                                        

Next morning was Dim Sum in Chinatown, then to Castro Street for the 46th annual street fair.  Needless to say, there were a lot of gay men.  It also rained about five minutes at LaFayette Park in the city.  How interesting and refreshing.                                                                                             

We dropped Kurt off to work, 4 pm, and went to meet Rich Cook and his girlfriend, Nancy.  Then it was back to Warren's for bed and we left to go home the next morning.