California McMillans

This year we spent Thanksgiving in UT.  Last time we did that was in 2018.  We intended to go in 2019 but go defeated by snow, then  Covid prevented our travels in 2020 and 2021.  As per tradition, we left Tuesday night, ate at Wendy's around Sacramento, and continued to drive through the night.  Around 5:00 am traffic was stopped between Wendover and Grantsville.  There had been warnings three hours prior that 80 East was closed.  Heidi was driving.  I woke up and asked, "Did you get pulled over for going 95?" We had to wait about 20 minutes before they opened up the freeway.  One car was totally mangled and looked like it had rolled 20 times.  Another had front-end damage, and a 10-wheeler had its right front wheel smashed in.  It was nuts.   This is the view from my parents' porch; a view of the Layton temple and Great Salt Lake, or what's left of the lake.  Lots of evaporation has shrunken it quite a bit.   On Wednesday we went to the Bountiful Rec center.  It

This year for my birthday I wanted to get away instead of get presents.  Originally we were headed to Maui but after my short trip to Provo and sitting on BART for quite a while, I realized I don't like traveling that much.  Instead Heidi and I went to Monterey, CA, sans kids.   I worked 1/2 day on Thursday, 11/10.  After picking up Parker's pink eye meds and cleaning the home, we left at almost 5:00.  Dinner was pupusas and tacos from two separate vendors.  The pupusas were better.  We stayed at the Mariposa Inn.  It was nice.   Friday morning we had a basic continental breakfast and then headed out to tackle the 17 mile drive, on bicycle.  I wanted to take a before shot since I didn't think we'd be that happy after the ride.   The first 5-7 miles were flat, good riding conditions along the coast.  The weather was perfect.  Our bikes worked well.   I brought my little tripod for the Canon 5d and did several timer on tripod shots.   The bike ride should have ended here

Peyton, Scott and Tyler after church Parker found a three legged salamander at Vecna's.  I thought it was a snake based on how it moved.  We put it in the terrarium with a heat lamp and he's doing well. Trunk or treat is the best bang for your buck.  The kids can get adequate candy without fatigue. Brennan joined us for traditional trick or treating Tyler was a part of Breanna's quinceañera/super sweet 16 crew.  It was two months of rehearsals leading up to a 12 hour day which exhausted him.   Hanna dances with Mrs. Rattaro, her kindergarten teacher I experimented with some no-flash shots at ISO 32000.  Direct flash in this application had the most consistent results.   Despite this being a quinceañera, no one else wore their cowboy hats or boots.  Regardless, I wore mine the whole night and was happy to log 11k steps in my cowboy boots.