Blogs from Ventura, California, United States, North America - page 4

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of planning, alas, we have made some of our reservations, but have yet to still do one very important thing: PACK. Ha. I have been blogging on this very subject, yet every time I stress the importance of packing to my husband, or remind myself, I find ....something else to do. These things to do are not necessary for our trip. I usually end up unpacking a new box or find something to re-organize around the house. :) Ah, the joys of procrastination. On Monday, Chet and I had a lovely breakfast at Egg's N Things in Ventura. There is something to be said about sitting in a little breakfast nook restaurant, drinking house coffee, eating Eggs Benedict and finalizing all the places we would like to visit. Somehow ... read more

Still haven't begun packing, but I can say that I appreciate that Chet went out and bought travel size containers for our shampoo and soap. He also bought little locks which I am sure we will need!:) Have been getting excited that there are two days left to work.:) The cool thing is, thinking of things like, when we are looking at the moon, thinking of looking at the moon in a little over a week in Europe. I just read through some of the features of this site and they only allow 50 pictures, for the crazy picture people we are, I had to go ahead and update our photobucket site. Here's the link to our album. First picture's in: http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/KHervey/ ... read more

Hi gang Wow what a day. It seems that today has been more like a da and a half because it was so busy!! But what a fantastic day we had. I started my day visiting this most A-M-A-Z-I-N-G school which is like a "practice school"attached to the University of Southern California Channel Isles. I spent several enlightening hours looking at this wonderfully bi-lingual school and checking out the school environment including their Pre-school facility. What can I say?? I really enjoyed looking around and getting lots of ideas. Their "Home Ec"unit is attached to the Music section and they share a facility which they call a Diner. They are looking at changing the cafeteria food and so much more. They are also teaching the students bi-lingually which means they run a 50/50 program which changes ... read more

19 Jan 2000 Auckland, New Zealand We fly out today for the start of our big adventure, my daugter Fran is home with her step sis Kate (heres hoping the house is still standing) my mate Jane is on red alert for any unauthorised partying... Meanwhile my old mate Helen will transfer from Paula's house sitting to Hel's house sitting around then too. Well this time next week I may be in LA... or somewhere around there. From: fran the man To: Hel & Scott Subject: you’re gone Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 Good to see that you got on your plane ok .Kate and I have been watching the news for any reports of plane crashes-just in case . I’m listening to tom Jones and missing you. Yes the house is still standing . Love ... read more

Alta California, the present-day state of California, was claimed for Spain by explorer Juan Cabrillo in 1534. (Hence Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro today.) Spain paid little attention to this distant possession for the next two hundred years. By the middle of the 18th century, Britain and Russia were expanding their claims to territory along the Pacific Coast of North America. Charles III decided it was time to enforce Spain's claim to Alta California. In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá was dispatched to lead an expedition northward from Loreto in Baja California and establish a permanent garrison at Monterrey Bay. A company of Soldados de Cuervo (Spanish colonial troops who wore a distinctive leather jacket), and Franciscan missionaries set out on an overland trek to a place as described two hundred years previously. The route they followed ... read more