History Through Innovations: 1940s

Manufacturing and Air Craft Carriers.  They learned how plastic products are made, which I had always vaguely wondered but never known and they experimented with the physics required for launching an airplane off of an aircraft carrier.  What a cool class!

Basketball League Starts Anew

Both are participating; different teams.  Fortunately the games were close together... this weekend.  We ended up with more/better pictures of K because G is a more dedicated photographer than am I and she got so many good action shots of her sister.

G winning the tip-off.

Guarding

A nice running shot

Wow!

Walk for Life West Coast

Our destination:  The Rehumanize International Meetup BEFORE the March and Rally.  It was great!  Secular pro-life positions grounded in logic and science.  I love my faith, but these perspectives bring important compassion, inclusion, and scientific logic to the issue and for that reason - in my opinion - resonate more effectively.  We wandered the main rally too and ran into lots of old friends.  It was especially awesome to see the fabulous and amazing Ruth Enero, there with her granddaughter.  I've known her and respected her consistent ethic advocacy for over 25 years now!.

My favorite sign:  Reduce Poverty, Not People.  Highlights the importance of providing resources and support to women, of not pitting one against the other but of reaching out to both with care and concern.  I saw a LOT of signs offering assistance and support, which is also great.  Oh, and the one I want for next time:  "I've Been a Feminist Since Conception."  Clever!

Some other favorites are below.

(These are mine:  my replica fetus feet (not unlike our son Xavier's feet were when he was born too early) and my "happy feminist pin from my Feminists for Life days")

I borrowed this photo from the New Wave Feminist web site because I LOVE the message and because I was so thrilled to meet Destiny today.  I love badass prolife feminists.

Searching for San Francisco's Hidden Labyrinth

I found a list of "20 secret things you didn't know about San Francisco."  (Or something like that).  I'd seen 'em all, except the labyrinth at Lands End.  That intrigued me, so I used this opportunity and some adventure partners to search!  There was no signage anywhere and when I tried to google it when we were en route, one of the girls told me that using a device to find it was off limits, we had to explore!  Okay... gorgeous walk, beautiful day fresh after a rain.  I'd have been happy even if we just ended up with the spectacular views, but we did find the labyrinth too!  Afterward, we visited a rocky beach with tons of foam and Puck had a blast.

Great company, great views!

Spectacular!

Add caption

Euclidian Geometry

I'm excited about this class because I didn't know that the topic existed and so would never have thought to teach it.  Hands on, interesting, and engaging.  They worked with lights and mirrors to try to determine how the designers of the pyramids got light deep into the structure and did a series of problems with refracted light.

SF Shakespeare Begins: The Misadventures of Falstaff

New teacher, new year; great start.

US History Class Starts: The Roots of the Black Lives Matter Movement

Excited about this class; lots learned even on the first day and the topic is timely and so important.

Indoor Skydiving Adventure

WOW, an incredible experience and fun with cousins.  Thanks, Abuela and Grandpa!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

We attended an event at a local church in which various dignitaries and community members read excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches.  It was very worthwhile, but also went nearly an hour long, which is a long time to sit and listen to people reading speeches (nearly three hours total).  We knew quite a few of the readers, which kept us there even when we got antsy, and it was a lovely tribute to the living legacy of Dr. King.  I loved seeing graduates of our program up there, and current colleagues; listening and seeing them participate made me appreciate yet again how much I value working at a place where social justice is a core part of the identity and mission.

History Through Innovation and Touring the UCB campus

G starts a new class - 20th century history through innovation and art. Lots to do and learn - just her style. In the meantime, K and I toured the UC Berkeley campus with Puck, which was impressive and interesting. I'd been there before, but not for many years. Was she inspired to attend? Well, I got her to pose and that's about as much as I could get out of her....

Morning Mist

This view, in the Oakland hills, always makes me think of Nepal, morning hikes looking across mountains, punctuated by low fog and inspiring beauty.  I need to go somewhere, need an adventure in the mountains.  On this day, though, much joy in a lovely hike with my Mom and G.

Science Experiments

What's more fun than a couple bottles of diet soda, two packs of mentos, and a nifty mento holder (Christmas present) that screws onto the top of the soda bottle?  Geyser time!

Run, G, run!

The photographer got a little too nervous about the explosion to frame the picture perfectly.  But check out those faces!

Happy New Year Hike

A cozy celebration with Abuela and Grandpa talking about best memories of 2017, hopes for 2018, and resolution plans; followed by a beautiful hike through the redwoods to see the ladybugs congregate on the first day of 2018.  I am forever impressed by these little ones; thicker and in more numbers, even, than I've seen in year's past.