Hayward Continued and Carol

While we lived in Hayward my brothers attended Colonial Acres Elementary School. I believe we lived on Harvard Street. I figure this from my recollection of where the school was from our house and the "Creek" at the end of our street, see the map link below.

Use the satellite view and zoom - you can see the "Creek".

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=17115+Meekland+Ave,+Hayward,+CA+94541,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title

I have several other scattered recollections from this time. One time when I was about 4, I was punished for bad behavior in a timeout under a large cardboard box; I found a bobby pin while under there and had fun playing with it. I didn't mind that timeout at all, and I remember Marie laughing about it years later that I was alway ingenious that way.

Another time, we had a babysitter one night and the three of us boys got into the cookies, a "no-no". That got us oatmeal cookies and nothing else, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a couple of days. We did get milk to drink with our cookies though.

However, the biggest event there in Hayward was the birth of my first half sister, Carol. She was born in October of 1968. I remember being told, by someone who was taking care of us, that she had been born while Craig and Marie were at the hospital, but I do not remember the time when they came home from the hospital. I think this was the event that triggered the need for us to move, because sometime before I started school, September of 1969, we moved to San Lorenzo.

I don't have many pictures of Carol, but this is the youngest one I could find.

I also found this great picture!
This is Fred and Marie in July of 1961.
Marie is pregnant with my brother Ron.

Shoulder Surgery

Chrissie had her surgery on Monday to remove calcium from her shoulder and to smooth out the rotator cuff. She had no complications and only 3 small incisions. She has had some good pain meds and says the pain from the surgery is less than the pain from the tendonitis before the surgery. She began her physical therapy today.

Court of Honor

Last night was a Court of Honor - Gib received 4 Merit Badges

Scoutmaster Green at the podium.

Gib on his way to receive MB's

Gib receiving awards.

Hot Springs

Chrissie and I spent the weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We spent Friday afternoon site seeing - the Bath House Row museum and Thermal Cascade and ate at a nice german restaurant. I had goulash and Chris had bratwurst. Saturday was an all day event at the Oaklawn Horse races. We were supposed to do this on Friday, but a late start from Franklin got us there too late, so we swapped days. I did pretty well opening with a winner on the first race. Missed the Daily Double by 2 feet. My horse in the second race was leading all the way and then was edged out at the last second. Oh well, we enjoyed the day. After the races we ate at a South American restaurant. The hotel had a spa package that was part of our deal. This allowed us to get a 20 minute bath in the natural hot spring water and then a massage.

Arlington Hotel

Thermal Cascade

Oaklawn Racetrack

Before the crowds got there - It was a capacity crowd.

Ronald Reagan's Suite - Just down the hall from us.

They tell us that Al Capone use to visit on a regular basis and rented out the whole 4th floor when he was there.

Chrissie’s Corner and Snowflake Lane

Well, we actually had a little snow for an hour or so. It’s a remote possibility that school will be cancelled – we can only hope! Oh, guess what? It’s snowing again…no school, no school, no school…oh, wait, if there’s no school I won’t get to have my 3rd annual luncheon tomorrow I started with my fellow ward sisters who have lost babies. Hmmm….that’s a hard one to decide which I want more. On one hand, I can always reschedule a lunch, especially one where we’ll have a couple teary moments, but on the other hand, sleeping in on a Thursday is pretty high up there on the happiness-meter!

Mariah went out and made snowballs. She brought in one the size of a quarter and I laughed at her, mostly because she actually put it in the freezer (remember I told you about that!). So then she went out and made a decent sized snowball. Put that one in the freezer. Went out again, and came in, I hear a “splat!” and then an “oops!” and laughed again. Well, there’s one clean spot on the floor now! Grammy took a photo of Mariah.

Chrissie’s Corner and Mutakinmove!

OK, you have to check out the horses names at the races on Friday! This is good stuff! Here’s an idea: Send your choices – and if I can, I’ll bet on it! (Unless I really like my choice better and Mike won’t spot me another $2 bucks!) Us vs Mike’s Stats…let’s see who wins!!! Right off the bat, here’s some that caught my eye: Katie’s Kandles and Rocker Chad (too bad they’re not in the same race!); Utah Sky and Seminary Field - but so far my favorite is Mutakinmove! I was really hoping for something to do with UNO, but didn’t see one…maybe by raceday…..So send me your choices now! http://www.oaklawn.com/races.aspx?date=01-18-2008

Chrissie's Corner and College Ave

So, I get the old “why don’t YOU write something” from Mike today seeing as how I have been bugging him to post something….

Well, it IS his blog, but maybe we should convert to a family blog, but I just don’t know if I can be creative under the name of Ringo. It’s just not ME.

I’ll give it the old “college try” since that subject has been uppermost in my mind and agenda lately. I’ve got Indy signed up for another college campus visit in February at Vanderbilt University. Wowzer – that is one expensive school! Too bad BYU isn’t on Indy’s radar right now. We’ll also visit University Tennessee Knoxville, University North Carolina Chapel Hill and maybe Wake Forest. San Diego State University is on her list too. Maybe after EFY in Florida there’ll be another college on her list. My stomach has started bothering me with the nerves of it all. I can feel the Momma-Pre-Meltdown beginning already. Let’s just refer to it from now on as MPM because I’m pretty sure it’ll come up again in the months ahead!

On a brighter note, Mike and I are getting away this weekend for our 21st wedding anniversary. We’re going to Hot Springs, Arkansas. They have a natural hot springs and mineral water spa where we’ll get to take a dip, followed by massages. I’ve already scoped out the restaurants (until 1 am during the first MPM when I couldn’t sleep) and have a list of yummy places for us to choose from while we are there. We’re going Cajun and, oddly enough in Arkansas, to a German Braus Haus! And purely coincidentally, Friday is the opening day at the Thoroughbred Racetrack!! Mike and I used to go to the Del Mar races while we were dating. We had such fun – we’d take $25 each, 2 footlong Togo’s, sodas, and lawn chairs and kick back on the blacktop right in front of the fence where the horses crossed the finish line. I love picking horses based on their names, how pretty they are, whether or not I like the Jockey colors, etc. Mike on the other hand, is all logical and deep into stats. I have a hard time not being swayed by his totally uninspired approach. I’m excited to go on opening day because we’ve never done that before, AND they have corned beef sandwiches and sodas priced at .50 all day! I’ll let you know how the sandwiches taste…not too sure about them! But, hey, more $$ for me to bet on Momma’s Meltdown to place!!!