Discovering Another Mad Dash (Oct 14): Heading Home and Finally finishing this TR #1523 (05/03)

[tiggrbaby]

Two kinds of after dinner shots - sweet!

 

[PrincessInOz]

"un-porn-worthy".......





TOO. FUNNY!!!

.

Ugh, the zoo food looks quite disgusting! Glad you made up for it when you FINALLY arrived at your aunt's home.

I think the liquor helped your shooting skills.

Jill in CO

I think you might be right!

The food at the SD Zoo doesn't look that appetizing from your other food porn pictures during the trip. This is one reason why I would stay away from the food at the zoo.

Nice to see that you made it to your aunt's house that night.

It was actually a friend's house that my aunt borrowed. But yes, I did eventually get there.

Impressive shooting - and pretty cool! Not your usual after-dinner entertainment no! Are you good at darts?

I'm terrible at darts!

You and my DH would also get along fine with the being early thing. He argues I always under-estimate the time to reach somewhere (mostly true but I refuse to arrive 30 mins early-or more depending on the type of appointment because of his OCDness!)

Sounds like your DH and I would be in complete agreement for arriving at our destination early.

Two kinds of after dinner shots - sweet!

Yup. Slivovice Shots; and Gun Shots.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Two kinds of after dinner shots - sweet!

good line

It doesn't surprise me that you did so well with the targets, you have a good eye for photography it's really the same thing. Now had you over indulged you would have lost that steady hand Good job Annie Oakley

 

[PrincessInOz]

good line

It doesn't surprise me that you did so well with the targets, you have a good eye for photography it's really the same thing. Now had you over indulged you would have lost that steady hand Good job Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day 4: Lazy Family Day


Familial Get-Togethers are not necessarily always so Convival



Discovery #22. The burdens from childhood that we carry through life are lifelong and deep.




This morning, I work up early to the most unusual sight for SoCal. The sun was streaming in through the bedroom window and incredibly....it was not smoggy. The day had dawned full of promise. Life should be all about sunny golden blue sky days.






I couldn't sleep in because something had been percolating in my mind over the weekend and I needed some clear space to mull it over.


Sometimes you need to share stuff with yourself no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. By extension, that means sometimes, I share stuff about myself with you no matter how uncomfortable it makes me feel. The blessing and curse of this forum is that I can do so in comparative anonymity without having to make any eye contact or see your body language as I do so. Afterall, I share because it helps me verbalise and internalise my feelings. Awareness is but the first step towards healing, right?



As a child, and as a second child, I have always felt unloved. I think it comes with the territory of being a middle child. Not that I don't love myself. I do. I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin and believe that I know myself pretty well....warts and all.

But as a child, it was one of those childhood burdens that I got in my mind....I truly believed that no one else loved me. True or untrue....you think it, so shall it be, right?


Afterall, growing up, I always knew my mother's favourite is my older brother and my younger brother was the apple of my father's eye. That just left me. In the middle.

As an adult, I've reconciled myself with those feelings and I do know that my parents love me. But that inner child still lives within me. That fact was so apparent at this familial weekend through all the family gatherings. My parents might not have been here; but my older brother was. Siblings can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. Afterall, no one knows your inner child secret like a sibling, right? All weekend, I felt like that little child again. In gatherings like this, it is invariable that family history and childhood exploits would be told and retold. Each story and childhood imperfection would be scrutinised in minutiae and laughed at by family.


Laughed at; not laughed with is a huge chasm of distinction.


That bottomless abyss is dark and echo's loudly with long not-forgotten hurts of child crying to be loved. I don't know about you, but those childhood hurts, so superficial by adult terms, are lifelong and deep. They actually caught me a little by surprise when my brother was retelling them over and over and over the weekend.


Awareness that family acceptance and love is still important to me was a discovery that surprised the heck of me. Even worse - I was surprised at how hurt I felt by some of the stories being told about me and how embarrassed I was to be laughed at. I guess I'm not as grown-up as I thought I am. Does anyone else feel like they revert back to childhood feelings the older you get?


So, in that garden, on a sunny clear day, I spent some time contemplating internal changes and self-acceptance. Looks like I might have to develop a new normal to live with.



And thanks for letting me indulge!





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[PrincessInOz]

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Comfort Food at Mama Kat's Cafe


Discovery #23. Trip Advisor is not always right.



Monday is a much better day to hit the local favourite.






Wait time this morning was under 10 minutes.






Even on a Monday, Mama Kat's was still well patronised.






We spent a few minutes amusing ourselves by looking at the quirky wall decorations.






It didn't take long for service to come round to our table. I had read on Trip Advisor that the service could be spotty and inconsistent. I couldn't complain about our service this morning. Our server was more than appropriately attentive. He took our order in quick time and got our beverages in hardly any time at all.






I really liked the self-serve coffee flavour tray. It was filled with seasonal offerings.







The kitchen was also on point. It didn't take long for our food to come out either.

Oatmeal for DH.






The Eggs Benedict was consistently raved about on Trip Advisor. I thought it was good, but not as great as what the reviews made it out to be.







The waffles were also of an appropriate standard. Again, this was good, but not great.






So....rated as the best breakfast place in North County, Mama Kat's delivered good consistent comfort food. But I didn't think it stacked up with the rave reviews on Trip Advisor. Whilst I would eat here again, I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to make that return visit.







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[PrincessInOz]

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Mosaic Magic


Discovery #24. It's amazing what local attractions you can find if you go looking.



Did I mention that the San Diego branch of the family isn't too adventurous?

I was determined to get some local sightseeing in the North County for this trip. Asking the family living in this part of the world for tips had not been a fruitful exercise in the past so I completely by-passed them and resorted to my friend Google. I found something in Kit Carson Park, Escondido that seemed right up my alley.






DH and DS were really dubious when we pulled into the very large park and went meandering round looking for this spot.







I didn't really blame them. I almost gave up myself but persevered only because I had seen pictures on the internet. I will admit that it took a bit to find this attraction. It wasn't that well sign-posted in the park.






The sculptor of the Queen Califia Magic Circle is Niki de Saint Phalle. I have no idea who she is but based on what we found here, I can only surmise that she is an artist of note.

The entry into the centre of the mosaic garden was like a whimsical maze.






There was only one entry in....and it was through the snakes.






Snakes, snakes.....everywhere. Aren't they lovely???












It really wasn't much of a maze and it didn't take us long to get to the central courtyard. But it did transport me into feeling like I was in a Disney cartoon.






There were 8 totems mosaics in here.






Each one beautifully created and coloured. This is the Step Totem.











I think this is the Kingfisher Totem.






I don't think this totem had a name.






The Birdhead Totem.






The Cathead Totem.







The Yelling Man Totem.







The Bullhead Totem.






The Snake Totem.














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[PrincessInOz]

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The totems were all placed around the most amazing central sculpture.







That central piece of art?






That's the Queen Califia, with an Egg Fountain and Eagle Throne mosaic sculpture.






Absolutely breathtaking in detail and intricacy.































We had been pretty lucky with our timing. The Magic Circle had just re-opened to the public that very day after phase 1 of a refurbishment. There were definitely signs that the refurbishment was necessary.






I'm so glad we went looking for this place.







It’s absolutely amazing to find these pieces of art in the middle of nowhere!







Pure magic.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Wow, that sculpture garden was amazing! Great find!

I totally know what you mean about family feelings from childhood coming back even now. Just today my mom said, "You can't carry those bins by yourself; you'd fall down the stairs." It makes me think of all the "you can't do (insert activity)" over all of the years, and how I feel like the incompetent one. I do keep my temper better than I did years ago, but it does still hurt.

Know that you are not alone!

 

[zanzibar138]

Love those mosaics! Just stunning!

I think we all have some baggage from our childhood. I was bullied terribly in high school, and still have issues with that from time to time.

 

[jedijill]

You are not alone. Thankfully therapy and geographical distance from my family helps.

The sculpture garden is lovely...not my favorite kind of art but striking none the less.

Jill in CO

 

[mvf-m11c]

The Mosaics look very interesting. Looking at them from your pictures are very interesting of the details.

 

[ACDSNY]

I enjoyed the SDZ pictures, it's been years since we've been there.

Sorry about the resurrection of unwanted childhood feelings that's never fun.

Nice discovery on the Kit Carson park!

 

[franandaj]

I'm not surprised that you enjoyed the shooting range. I just can't believe the guy had one in his house! Fran and I used to go to the range before I joined the DIS, we had great fun although my forearms would be very sore from the recoil of the guns. We had to go to private ranges where you would rent time and we certainly didn't do it after an adult beverage!

Your story about your childhood definitely strikes a chord with me. Although if I had to pick a role in the sibling situation, I would have been the older, but not sure that I was more loved. I did have more "opportunities" which was made clear to me. I think because of that and some behaviors, I may not have been the favored one. I will remember on this week at my sisters to behave in a benevolent and appreciative manner and not exhibit behaviors as your brother did, although I'm not sure I have many memories that would be embarrassing or condescending. I need to be appreciative of my sister regardless of what we feel about her previous behaviors, she and her husband seem to have turned over a new leaf, but I digress on your TR!

The park looked rather interesting. I'm amazed that they had such an art collection in such a remote location. Not my style of art, but rather inspired and very cool to have such a lifesize collection of said art!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Amazing mosaics - good find!

My issues stem from my teens and relationship with my stepmother - spending so much time looking after Dad and Mum now, the couple of times I have tentatively raised some of that 'baggage' she does not recall her responses at all. (So I don't sound like a cliche step-daughter one I cannot forgive is "are you trying to kill me like you did your mother" - mum died of an aneurysm when I was 6). Most of the time I have forgotten and forgiven as contrarily she has also been very supportive of me, and made my Dad very happy, but some will rankle forever I suspect. Looking back I think it timed with menopause, and I have worked under another woman who went pretty "loony" at that time. My family are on "alert" - do not let me ever get like that. So far so good!! Glad you sorted things out in your head though - funny what comes back to bite you unexpectedly

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wow, that sculpture garden was amazing! Great find!

I totally know what you mean about family feelings from childhood coming back even now. Just today my mom said, "You can't carry those bins by yourself; you'd fall down the stairs." It makes me think of all the "you can't do (insert activity)" over all of the years, and how I feel like the incompetent one. I do keep my temper better than I did years ago, but it does still hurt.

Know that you are not alone!

Thanks, tiggrbaby. It's funny how family comments can send us back to being little children again.

Love those mosaics! Just stunning!

I think we all have some baggage from our childhood. I was bullied terribly in high school, and still have issues with that from time to time.

Sorry you were bullied. That's something that you never really forget.

You are not alone. Thankfully therapy and geographical distance from my family helps.

The sculpture garden is lovely...not my favorite kind of art but striking none the less.

Jill in CO

Thanks, Jill. My older brother and I live in different geographic regions now. It does help.

I quite enjoy eclectic art like that sculpture garden.

The Mosaics look very interesting. Looking at them from your pictures are very interesting of the details.

Thanks Bret. Melbourne has a few mosaic art pieces and I've learnt to enjoy looking at them. Now, I just seem to go out looking for mosaics when I'm out and about.

I enjoyed the SDZ pictures, it's been years since we've been there.

Sorry about the resurrection of unwanted childhood feelings that's never fun.

Nice discovery on the Kit Carson park!

Eh. It happens. It was an interesting discovery, though.

Kit Carson park was fun. We've driven near it before but never really stopped in until this trip.

I'm not surprised that you enjoyed the shooting range. I just can't believe the guy had one in his house! Fran and I used to go to the range before I joined the DIS, we had great fun although my forearms would be very sore from the recoil of the guns. We had to go to private ranges where you would rent time and we certainly didn't do it after an adult beverage!

I need to work out if I will ever have the nerve to shoot a full-strength bullet...at a shooting range. I was really suprised at how very fun I found it.

Your story about your childhood definitely strikes a chord with me. Although if I had to pick a role in the sibling situation, I would have been the older, but not sure that I was more loved. I did have more "opportunities" which was made clear to me. I think because of that and some behaviors, I may not have been the favored one. I will remember on this week at my sisters to behave in a benevolent and appreciative manner and not exhibit behaviors as your brother did, although I'm not sure I have many memories that would be embarrassing or condescending. I need to be appreciative of my sister regardless of what we feel about her previous behaviors, she and her husband seem to have turned over a new leaf, but I digress on your TR!

I hope your familial visit goes well.

The park looked rather interesting. I'm amazed that they had such an art collection in such a remote location. Not my style of art, but rather inspired and very cool to have such a lifesize collection of said art!

I was amazed to see that art collection there too. It's pretty eclectic and right up my alley.

Amazing mosaics - good find!

My issues stem from my teens and relationship with my stepmother - spending so much time looking after Dad and Mum now, the couple of times I have tentatively raised some of that 'baggage' she does not recall her responses at all. (So I don't sound like a cliche step-daughter one I cannot forgive is "are you trying to kill me like you did your mother" - mum died of an aneurysm when I was 6). Most of the time I have forgotten and forgiven as contrarily she has also been very supportive of me, and made my Dad very happy, but some will rankle forever I suspect. Looking back I think it timed with menopause, and I have worked under another woman who went pretty "loony" at that time. My family are on "alert" - do not let me ever get like that. So far so good!! Glad you sorted things out in your head though - funny what comes back to bite you unexpectedly

I don't think you'll ever get like that.




Thanks everyone for posting about your childhood hurts. I didn't think I was the only one that felt like a little kid from time to time. It sure helps to know it!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lazy Afternoon with the Family


Discovery #25. There is nothing as important as spending time with family.



There was any number of activities we could have chosen to do on the Monday. DH and I did have a few things on list but they all fell by the wayside when my aunt sent us an email to tell us that she had decided to take the day off to spend time with us.


There really isn't anything in the world as important as spending time with family, is there?


We pitched up just before lunch time. "Eat, eat, eat!" said my aunt and uncle.






It was a very comfortable home to spend the day.






For as long as I can remember, my aunt and I have always shared a love of music. When I was young, she helped me out when I was learning the piano by giving me pointers and tips on how to play one piece or another.

She knew that DH and I had been learning classical guitar and she asked me to play for her. It turned out to be a very interesting hour. After all these years....the student finally becomes the teacher. I finally got to return a small measure of all the time she spent helping me when I was younger. She asked me for a lesson and pointers on how to improve her hand positions and tone on the guitar. I'd like to think that if my guitar teacher was observing the lesson that she would think that I did a credible enough job.

It was such a role reversal for us that afternoon. If nothing else, it was yet another one of those moments in life where you get to consciously add another solid layer to the relationships you have with your nearest and dearest. Especially precious when you know that beside the ties of family blood, you have a true emotional bond with. A rather large pond might separate my aunt and me....but when we see each other in 3D, we continue our friendship and relationship along a path that ebbs and flows and grow; mirroring the ebbs, flows and growth that we have made as individuals. The more we change, the more things stay the same.


Throughout the afternoon, both my cousin that got married, his wife and my other cousin stopped by the house to spend time with us. We really had a very lazy afternoon with the family that day.






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[PrincessInOz]

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Eat! Eat! Eat!


Discovery #26. Leftovers eaten for the 3rd time is one time too many!



My aunt really cooked up a fortune of food for the family dinner last night. She had so much food leftover that we were obliged to help her try and finish some of it before we left.


She did bribe....er.....ply us with homemade mojitos to make the dinner more palatable. "Eat, eat, eat!" said my aunt and uncle.






Mojitos aside, this was the 3rd time we were seeing the same dishes. Yeah. I have to say that the dishes were all great the first and second time round. However, there was a strange monotony in eating food for the 3rd time in 4 meals.

I looked at the soya chicken and managed a piece. Just.






My aunt had cooked two types of chicken dishes. I passed on this one on the 3rd outing.






The BBQ style pork was looking way past dry. Pass.






The fried rice had been a hit with the teenagers. I could have eaten more of this but there was hardly any left.






It was a delicious chilli sauce but you really can't eat a sambal by itself. It really was a pity that there wasn't much rice left.






I did indulge in the chicken satay. But no matter how delicious and tender it was, even this was starting to get to the too dry stage as well.






Still, the satay was perfectly good when you added a liberal amount of the peanut sauce. For those of you with a peanut allergy, don't lick the screen. Thankfully, I don't have a peanut allergy.






The soya and ginger pork was my go-to dish for this 3rd outing. It was still pretty appetising.






The noodles and vegetables were really past its prime. Everyone passed on this dish.






I don't mind leftovers; really I don't. But in this case, having the same dishes 3 times in the space of 4 meals is probably one time too many! But then, we do strange things for family, right?



It had been a great day. The family here were the reason we made the mad dash across the pond. As family visits go, this had been a successful trip for us. Despite the hustle and bustle of the wedding, we had managed to spend some quality time together on this day. We lingered as long as we could but the time had come for us to say our goodbyes. It was a bittersweet moment as we all knew it would be a long time before we would see each other in 3D again.

 

[mvf-m11c]

It is always a good idea to have a lazy day after so many fun days with your family members. The family meal looks very nice.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It is always a good idea to have a lazy day after so many fun days with your family members. The family meal looks very nice.

Thanks Bret. It was lovely catching up with my aunt and cousins.