Santa Cruz

On Thursday Kaisi, Cortney and I headed over to Santa Cruz beach boardwalk for a quick walk along the pier. We did a little shopping and had some fun looking at the things for sale.

Here we are together on the pier.

Cortney and Kaisi

Me and Cortney

This is my attempt at a 'gansta' look.  I'm not any good at it.

Me and Cortney looking at the Sea Lyons.

We had a great day shopping, I bought a puzzle ring, Kaisi bought a zip up hoodie and Cortney bought a shot glass to add to her collection.  Fun was had by all.  After we checked out the pier we went over to the boardwalk but by the time we got there most the shops and games were closed so we didn't stay long.  Then it was off to Red Lobster for dinner.

Good food, good company!  Sure enjoyed my time with Kaisi and Cortney.

Winchester Mystery House

I went down to visit with my nieces Kaisi and Cortney in San Jose this past week.  Cortney was out visiting her sister and I wanted to see them both while Cortney was in town.  So I drove down to San Jose on Wednesday and we went to the Winchester Mystery house.  I will copy what my niece posted on her blog about the history of the house since she wrote it so well.

Sarah Pardee married William Winchester. William was the 2nd President of the Winchester Gun Company. Sarah and William had 1 child that lived for 6 weeks then died. Shortly after her husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He died as well. Sarah had a REALLY hard time with this and went to a psychic to control her grief. He told her that all the people who died from her husbands guns were coming to get revenge like they had on her husband and daughter. To avoid these spirits she needed to move into a house and never stop building. The spirits would get lost and not be able to find her. So she moved out to California and for 40 years built onto a house 24 hours a day. The 6 acre mansion contains 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, 6 kitchens and 1 shower. When she died it took 8 truckloads a day for 6 1/2 weeks to clear out all the furniture. It was only 3/4 furnished. There are such weird things in the house... There are stairs that lead to the ceiling, doors that go nowhere and that open onto walls, and chimneys that stop just short of the roof! It is estimated that 500 rooms to 600 rooms were built, but because so many were redone, only 160 remain.
On the tour you see 110 of the 160 rooms.

Here are some pictures we took while where were there.

 This is us in front of the sign in the parking lot of the house and the plaque in front of the entrance.

  The front gate as you walk into the gift shop before we started the tour.  Sarah Pardee Winchester liked spiderwebs and the number 13.  This is Cortney standing by the gate.

 Cortney again under the number 13 formed from a tree on the estate.

Cortney, Kaisi and myself in front of the mansion.

Here we are standing at the front door of the mansion which they say Sarah was the only one who went through this Tiffany glass front door. (besides the two workers who installed them).  One story they told us wast that President Theodore Roosevelt came to San Jose and while he was there stopped by the house and when he approached the front door a servant saw him from behind and told him if he was looking for a job he needed to go around back and go in at the servants entrance.  He was not amused and left without even going into the house.

This is just one of the examples of the strange construction Sarah did to this house with doors that go nowhere and windows that open to walls.  Cortney is trying to figure out how she can get to that door to go in.

Kaisi with one of the sculptures in the front yard of the mansion.

Here Cortney found another sculpture of a deer so she thought she would pretend she was going to attack it like a Lyon.

All in all we had a great time walking through the house, which by the way is over a mile walk and then we walked around the garden.

We found these purple roses and thought how pretty but I had never seen a purple rose before.

We also found one of those photo booths you get in to take a picture of yourself and decided to cram all three of us in it and get a picture taken.

We did get a picture and here it is.

I did the fortune teller machine and this is the fortune I got.

You're not suppose to take pictures inside the house but I snapped a couple with my cell phone of the ball room that never was used.  Sarah tried to have a party and invited the towns people but they thought she was crazy and no one came after that Sarah turned her back on the town.  Anyway here is a couple pictures.

The two windows have saying from two different Shakespeare plays one was Henry VII but I don't remember the other.  I wish the picture was a bit better so you could make out the writing.
All in all it was a great day and we had a wonderful time.

Does this look like a gas station to you?

People are getting desperate these days with the economy the way it is or maybe just a bit confused as to where to get items they need.  Last night around 9:30pm I walked out of my apartment to head to the store and after I locked my door I turned and looked down to my car as I always do and saw a man standing in between my car and the car parked next to it.  Well I thought it was my neighbor whose parking place is next to mine but wondered why he was on the passenger side of his car.  I watched this man for a few moments and he was, what it looked like taking a plastic bag off his legs.  It was raining so again I didn't understand but figured he was trying to keep dry.  Then he took a step forward and reached out for the back part of my car right where the gas tank compartment is and flipped open the door that covers the gas cap.  At that moment I realized it was not my neighbor and figured out the guy was going to try and steal gas from my car. 
In a panic I screamed "HEY, GET AWAY FROM THAT CAR!!!" and the man quickly picked up his plastic container and siphon hose and made a quick retreat out of there.  He didn't run just quickly walked off and around the building.  He never looked up in my direction, I'm guessing so as to not show his face.  I then walked down to my car after dropping off the trash I had to throw away and got in my car and headed to the store.  As I was leaving I looked for the man but didn't see him.  When I returned I drove through the parking lot of the complex to see if he was attempting to hit someone else but didn't see him.  I hope I scared him off and away from the complex.  I couldn't believe someone would be so bold to try and steal gas out of a parked car at 9:30 at night.  I would think later in the night would be a better time when most people are asleep. 
I wished I hadn't panic and waited to see if he could really get into my gas tank since I have a locking gas cap or I should have just pressed the panic button on my key chain that would have probably freaked him out more than just my yelling.  Or better yet walked up to him and said "What ya doin?" Just to see what he would do or say.  Although that might be a bit too dangerous.   I just hope that if he comes back again and finds the locking gas cap and can't get gas that he doesn't decide to break into the car just to see if there is anything inside to steal.  Aw the joys of living in an apartment complex without security gates.

Going Private.

I've decided to go private with my blog.  I know I don't write much anyway but if you still wish to read the few ramblings I do write let me know.  I will be going private on Wednesday of this week. If you'd like to still keep track, send me your email address or leave a comment and I'll send you an invite.

Locks of Love

Well today I followed in my nieces footsteps and decided to donate my hair to Locks of Love.  Becka donated last year, I think and Rachel donated in April of this year.  Unfortunately I didn't get a before shot of me but here is a picture of how much I got cut off. 

 As you can see (if you click on the picture) I got a little over 16 inches cut off to donate and probably at least another inch or two for the hair style.

And here is a picture of me with my new hair cut.

Giving your hair to locks of love is a really good way to help out those who need wigs due to cancer treatment.  I know for some getting that much hair cut off is pretty traumatic and the hairdresser is always a little worried you will react badly once you see how short your hair is.  I however have never worried about it and it's never been traumatic for me I always say it's just hair it will grow back.  

Thanks to Becka and Rachel for being such an inspiration to me and setting a good example by donating your hair to locks of love.  Thanks girls!!!