San Francisco

We had a fun day just being tourists!

We didn't take the time to go to the aquarium, but I would like to do so someday.

Pier 39 is the main "tourist trap" at Fisherman's Wharf.

Lots and lots of shops to spend money in...

And a giant Christmas tree to put you in the mood to spend $$$ :o)

Have you ever seen a double decker carousel? I hadn't!

It was soooo cold. I thought this poor little bird looked frigid!

The famous Alcatraz Island

A performer at Fisherman's Wharf

Some of the street performers we saw (there weren't too many out on this blustery day).

The San Francisco Boudin Sourdough Bread Company is a YUMMY place to visit. I had to take several pictures of them making bread in differents shapes. They are really artists! :o) It was fun to watch the demonstrations as well as smell the yummy bread baking!

View of the city

The famous "street cars". We rode on them a couple times during our visit.

This is Lombard Street. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but it's the crookedest street in the US. :o)

The next two pictures are just to give you an idea of how steep the roads are in Frisco. We hiked up and down a few of them. (whew)

In California Again

We're in San Francisco this weekend. Tim and I are going sight seeing down by Fisherman's Wharf today. I may even get some pictures to post! (I know they've been a long time in coming).
Anyway, until then I found some holiday eating tips in a paper my parents get called the Fish Wrapper and thought I'd share them with you...
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving real snack food.
2. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
3. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
4. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
5. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-lb plate of food.
6. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in a variety of shapes and sizes, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
7. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
8. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have SOME standards.
9. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

:o)