Snipets

Birthday Fun

I had a great time on my birthday date with Tod. We saw Corpse Bride and then shopped the resale and thrift stores. Then we had an early dinner downtown at a great Mexican restaurant. Tod also gave me a coffin purse that I really hoped to have when we saw the movie. It will still be great fun for Halloween. The boys gave me remote locks for the van and Tod installed them on Sunday. It was something I've wanted since we bought the van. I got flowers and a check from Mom and Lou and an iPod from Tim and Maggie. It was really a great birthday weekend!

The Bus, The Bus

Ethan has been doing well taking the bus to and from school. His bus is so full, it takes about 45 minutes for him to get home. Dylan starts on Monday so we'll see how that goes. We still don't know what his pick up and drop off times are.

Tod

Tod has a new boss at work and he is very pleased about that. In fact his boss's boss lives in Chicago and was born and raised in Rockford until he was drafted. Tod still doesn't remember his last name so I don't know if any of you would know him. He has a very poor opinion of Rockford, though.

Halloween

I'm getting geared up for my favorite holiday! Looking at all the decorations at the stores (and picking up a couple). I still don't know what the boys are going to dress up as. Ethan was looking at a clown costume but I don't know if that's definite. The neighbors go all out for halloween decorations, so that will be fun, too.

Pleasanton - North Hollywood???

I was reading in the paper today that many westerns were filmed in Pleasanton from 1917 to the early 30's. Lillian Gish in Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm was one of them. Also The Lemon Drop Kid. Hollywood loved Pleasanton's Main Street as well as the surrounding hills and rivers. Plus, since rodeos and horse racing were a big thing, many of the stars liked coming here. (Seabiscuit raced here, too). Hollywood stopped coming when Pleasanton paved Main St. No dust!

In Memory of Pish

Pish is dead. When I sprinkle food on top of the water only one fish came up to eat. I looked and looked for Pish and finally found her finless body buried half in the rocks at the bottom of Fish's side of the tank. Nancy says that beta's fight to the death, so I guess Fish drug her over the divider again and finished her off. I'm not sure if we will get another fish or not, but if we do we'll put them in separate tanks.


til later....

Reflections on a Birthday

Today is my birthday and, as usual, I have mixed feelings about it. I love birthday cake for breakfast. And Tod never fails to make sure I get it. Even when he used to go to work when I was still asleep, there was always a birthday cake for me when I got up. My favorite time was when he drew flames on little pieces of paper and taped them to the wicks of the candles. What a guy. I love getting e-cards - Thank you Mom and Lou, Tim and Maggie, Gerrie. And e- cards from people I haven't heard from in a while, but never fail to send a card - thank you Rich. I love getting to pick the movie and restaurant if we get to go out. I love getting cards signed by the boys and packages in the mail. I love hearing "Happy Birthday Mommy" like I did this morning. Unfortunately, it was just Ethan, Dylan was sick in bed. I love letting my kids dig into my cake with their hands. Ethan ate all the words off. I love that it is the beginning of fall, the end of 90 degree weather and allergy season (although I don't know if it's the end of snake season). I love remembering all the "libra babe" parties we had in Rockford, although that is where the mixed feelings start. I miss those times more that I can say. I remember my 40th birthday. "The Usual Suspects" got together and I was pregnant with the boys. I was not depressed at all about turning 40. How could I be with this whole new life ahead of me. My friends were all around. Things have changed so much since then. Now, when I tell people how old I am they don't say, "I never would have guessed you to be that old. I thought you were in your 30's". They don't say anything. There's no parties and we're just lucky we got a sitter for tomorrow afternoon to have lunch and see a matinee (I still get to pick, though).
There's another "birthday" this weekend. Last year at this time we were looking for houses in Pleasanton because of Tod's new job. It was a bittersweet time.... filled with the excitement of a new life. A new job for Tod, better schools and more services for the boys, a bigger, nicer house. The thought of leaving friends and family was a something I couldn't think about. It was a decision Tod and I made together. He told me he wouldn't take the job if I just said the word. But when would this opportunity come again for him or the boys? Most of my friends couldn't even understand why I would hesitate. So now it's been a year. And Tod still has a good job making more money and the boys are getting incredible services from both the school and the state. Pleasanton is a wonderful, beautiful town in it's own right. Plus it's close to everything. We've seen and done so much in the Bay Area already. I am so happy about all those things. So here it is my 47th birthday and a year later and I'm feeling melancholy. Can all these things replace the boys seeing their grandparents several times a week, or my Wednesday date with mom...my sister coming to Rockford for frequent visits...Uncle Tim taking the boys to the park....unbirthday parties for the boys in our backyard or our parties with "The Usual Suspects"? Was it the right decision? ....we're still here.

til later......

The Bus Trials

Ethan took the bus to and from school today. We have been having a rough time with the SD and the bus co. getting the boys home within a reasonable timeframe. 90 minutes to and 90 minutes from school is way too long. Anyway, we started a trial bus ride today with Ethan. The bus got here about the same time Tod usually leaves the house with Ethan, so that was cool. I made Tod follow the bus so he could make sure Ethan was ok when he got off the bus at school, too. He seemed fine, Tod said.

I picked Dylan up on time today because I didn't have to get Ethan first. Dylan seemed very pleased about that. We got home and waited and waited for the bus to bring Ethan. I waited, Dylan had snack and played. At exactly 1 hour from when school let out, the bus pulled up. I ran out to get Ethan and you know what he was saying when he got off the bus? "Mommy, you found me!" He seemed to be fine with it. Still haven't heard about Dylan's trial on the bus. We'll see what happens.

til later...

I Am Shirley's Kidney

Yes, my kidneys have been a real pain! Last night was so bad, I took a percacet at bedtime. This morning I was in so much pain and so hung over, Tod would not let me drive the boys to school. I hate this. It sucks so big!

Another Visit by the Tooth Fairy

This time Ethan lost his first tooth. A bottom tooth he had been telling us was loose came out during lunchtime at school. I was hoping it would be that top front tooth that was damaged when he fell a couple years ago. It's getting so dark, now, that I have to touch up his pictures on PhotoShop.

I Have My (Snake) Eyes On You

There was a snake on our driveway yesterday. I walked around the back of the van and stopped at the door. Is that what I think it is??? I turned around and it hissed at me - in my own driveway. I walked closer to get a better look and it hissed again. What nerve! It was gone by the time we got home from school, but I checked the mailbox really well before I reached my hand in there to get the mail. (If you want to hear how frantic I really was, you'll have to ask Tod or Tim.)

til later...

The Geologist

I saw the geologist yesterday for my post surgery check up. He said... drink more water, keep straining my urine and sleep on my right side and come back in a month. The stones would pass. He was a little worried about the big one on the left because it was right by the exit of the kidney and he is afraid the "gravel" has pooled there. I guess sleeping on my right side will make it pour out. He took no responsibility for reanimating my uterus...said the 2 weren't connected. I find that difficult to believe.

til later...

Got Milk?

Yesterday I had just started dinner and sat down on the sofa to read the mail. The boys came in from outside and sat on either side of me.
"Ice cream?" Ethan asked. "No, I just started dinner." "WWWWAAAA" He runs screaming through the house and then sits down next to me.
"Cake?" Dylan asked. "No, I don't think..." "WWWWAAAAA" He runs screaming through the kitchen and then sits back down next to me.
"Goldfish?" Ethan asked. "Well, maybe with di...." "WWWWAAAA" He runs screaming through the house and then sits back down next to me.
"Milk?" Dylan asks. "Yes, you can have milk. It's on the table." "Yeah, Milk!" they both scream and run to the table.
Good thing I had milk.

til later.....

HOORAY ETHAN!
Ethan's teacher has informed me that after less than 2 weeks into the school year, Ethan has a friend! An NT friend from one of the typical first grades! I know that the aide facilitated the friendship, but Ethan reciprocated and that is the coolest! And now they look for each other on the play ground during recess! Every time I say (or write) about this, I get more than choked up, tears just pour down my face. This is something that I so want for my boys, but have always been afraid to hope for. A friend.


DYLAN
Dylan hasn't been having any seizure activity lately that we've seen. He is still enjoying school. Smiling when he gets out of the van. He will even allow the aide to get him out of the van instead of me. His language is getting better, although we have some really tough moments when he is trying to tell us something and we can't understand it. He becomes so frustrated and goes into a total rage sometimes. We are working on this with the behaviorist.

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU'RE REALLY SQUEAMISH ABOUT "FEMALE" MEDICAL ISSUES
Or why I haven't written in so long
The lithotrypsy turned out to be worse than I had expected.... lots of pain, blood in my urine, not many stones passing. And then something odd happened. You may or may not remember back in May when I had a "uterine ablation". It was supposed to cauterize the inside of my uterus and relieve all my menstrual problems by relieving me of having a period. Well, 5 days after my kidney stone procedure, I started my period again! So, I don't know exactly what part of my insides are hurting and I can't tell if I'm passing stones, cuz there is blood everywhere (sorry!). It seems the radio waves from the lithotrypsy "reanimated" my uterus. Tod calls it "Frankenwomb". Anyway, I feel awful still, I'm in pain still and I'm still waiting to see both the urologist and the gynecologist... and wondering when the villagers will be arriving with torches.

FISH FIGHTS
I went to feed the boys' fish the other day - two Betas, Pish and Fish - and found both fish on the same side of the tank. If you know anything about Betas, they are Oriental Fighting Fish and you never put them in the same tank because they will beat the crap out of each other. So Aunt Nancy bought our Betas a tank with a see through divider, so they can make faces at each other but not do mortal combat. I don't know if one of the boys moved the Pish into Fish's side or if Pish jumped or if Fish grabbed her and pulled her over. Anyway, Pish got the crap beat out of her. She is pale (she was the red one), not eating well and her fins have been pretty shredded. Fish, on the other hand, looks gorgeous with dark iridescent fins that make him look like he's strutting around the tank. It will be interesting to see if there is a rematch.

WEATHER
Really cool here lately. I was getting so tired of 95+. It's 75 during the day and low 50's at night. No air conditioning. Jeans and sweaters in the mornings. Beautiful blue skies, nice breezes, no bugs. I love this.

til later.....

The Stones Have Been Blasted

They went ahead and did the lithotripsy procedure yesterday. And everything went well. Tod picked the boys up from school before he came to get me. It was so nice to have them there. The car ride home was pretty rough, but fortunately since it was 3:30 in the afternoon and holiday traffic wasn't too bad, yet. I've been drinking lots of water and taking lots of drugs. But I'm feeling better and better as each hour goes by. Glad it's a 3 day holiday. I'm sure I'll be up and running by Tuesday, especially since I don't have a choice ;-) Tod, in the mean time has been a great nurse and also wonderful at intercepting little boys who want to jump on their mom's bruised kidneys.

til later...

The Latest

For those of you who got a little misty eyed reading about Dylan's traumatic first day, you'll be happy to know that the last two days he has been singing on the way to school and even smiling(yes, smiling!) when he gets out of the car. Of course everyone in the classroom is just getting used to each other and the school day for this first week so we'll see how he is when the real work starts!
Tod and I are driving the boys to and from school. The bus co. told me that their contract with the school district said the kids can be on the buses up to 90 minutes one way. When Tod asked the director of sped about that, he would "neither confirm or deny" that statement and wanted to know who I talked to. See how sd's can be so secretive? They act like it's a matter of national security! Anyway, Tod takes Ethan in the morning and I take Dylan. Except on Wed. when school starts later, then I take them both and Dylan is early and Ethan is late. I pick them both up in the after noon. Ethan gets out of school 10 minutes before Dylan. It can be stressful some days.
Ethan is doing ok, starting to get the hang of the routine. But Dylan's teacher stopped me yesterday and said she would advocate for Ethan to be in the same school as Dylan if that's what we wanted. So it looks like IEP time again. I think they might as well book us in advance for an IEP meeting every 6 months.

We got orders from the neurologist at Stanford to have Dylan's depakote levels checked. Then the neurologist wants to see Dylan in person (awfully nice of him). He might do a 24 or 48 hour EEG after that. We don't know if he could do that at home or if there would be a hospital stay involved. We haven't seen any seizures or aftermaths of seizure in a while. But that was one reason I really didn't want him on the bus for 1-1/2 hours. Who would notice, if he did have a seizure? I have to tell you, on Monday when I got him off the bus after riding for 1-1/2 hours, the look on his face before he noticed me just broke my heart! He looked so forlorned an abandoned. Anyway, I'll let you know of any more news.

As far as my kidney stones, well there's a whole other story. I went to the hospital for pre-op tests yesterday and there was a problem with my EKG. So it looks like my procedure tomorrow most likely will be postponed. This happened to me one other time and I had a bunch of cardiology tests and it turned out to be nothing. Anyway, the cardiology and anesthesiologist here are comparing my last EKG with this one from yesterday. What they find will determine if I go in tomorrow. I was so looking forward to getting this over with so the kidney pain would stop. Pain is so inconvenient! And it messes up everyone else's day if your doubled over and can't get snack quickly or help with the dishes. Tod's back, by the way, is doing much better. He still has pain when he moves certain ways, but it's much better than it was. The boys are so happy to have him out back playing with them again!

til later...

School Days, School Days

The boys have started a brand new year at school. Ethan has a new school (Lydiksen Elementary) and all new teachers and aides and a curriculum that is much like a regular first grade. Dylan is in a new class room at Vintage Hills, with a new teacher and all new aides and a curriculum that's similar to last year's but a grade up. Tod took Ethan to school this morning and said Ethan seemed stunned, but was going with the flow and had started coloring his envelope (envelope for what, I don't know). Dylan started saying "no, no" as soon as I stopped the van in the drive way at school. An aide came to help him into the classroom but Dylan tried to get back in the van and push me in with him. I didn't see any tears or meltdown behavior as I drove away... not from Dylan anyway, I was a wreck. When school is done I will pick Ethan up instead of him riding the bus as we had planned. It is an 1-1/2 bus trip for a 10 minute car ride. There's no way my 6 y/o autistic child will sit on the bus for that long. I will be calling the bus co. when I am done with this post. Dylan, alas, will be riding the bus and I hope he does ok with that. He has been used to me being there everyday when school is done.
And so starts the first day of another school year.

Tod and I are still limping along. My kidney pain is worse than ever and I can't wait for Friday when they blast these stones apart. Tod's back is better, but he keeps rehurting it trying to make up for the slack of me either being in excrutiating pain or drugged to the gills or both. Plus the boys have been particularly rowdy and winy. We pretty much just get as little done as we can get away with and then both of us collapse in a fetal position. I'm interviewing a new respite worked this after noon. Maybe she can pick up the slack. But I digress, my point is to apologize to everyone we've neglected while we're crippled up. I've not kept up with emails, birthdays, anniversaries, phone calls. It should get better soon. I'm trying my best to keep the blog up to date so you can at least check in and see that we're alive.

til later....

The Next Step

The neurologist wants Dylan to have a blood test to check his Depakote levels. After that we are supposed to take Dylan back into Stanford for an appointment with the doctor. Maybe we'll get some answers then. At least it will be better that playing phone tag with the nurse!

til later...

Conversation with a Nurse

Tod talked to the nurse practitioner at Stanford this morning. She confirmed that nothing showed up on the EEG. She is going to talk to the Neurologist and he may suggest a 24 or 48 hour EEG. I don't know if this would be at the hospital or if they would just strap a recorder to Dylan like the last time he and Ethan had a 24 hour EEG. She did say that we should start a log of the episodes and if he starts to turn blue again we should definitely call 911. Tod said she seemed a little perplexed because it didn't fit into the "mold" of a typical epileptic seizure. We visited Dylan's new teacher and classroom today and I made sure she was aware of what was going on. The summer school teacher who first noticed the seizures was there today, too. She said she had been thinking about Dylan all summer and how scarey it was when the seizure happened in her classroom.
In the mean time, we are busy trying to get ready for school, working out bus and driving schedules, meeting new teachers, visiting new schools. Ethan seemed to like his new teacher and already had a chance to play on the computer and check out the playground. Dylan already had a meltdown in his new classroom, so we're off to a great start there. Actually it's probably a good thing for her to know what she's getting into. She has a background in behavior therapy so I think it's a good match.

til later...

Frustrated!

The nurse practitioner Tod talked to today said that the EEG looked fine. Tod asked her what we were supposed to do about these episodes...what are they? She wouldn't say anything else, just said we had to talk to the other nurse practitioner tomorrow. Should we be relieved? I'm not. The school staff, the tutor, Tod and I have all seen him do this. In fact he had two more episodes this morning with the tutor right after Tod told me what the test result was. I'm still scared and frustrated and not too confident that I will feel any better tomorrow.

til later...

No Word Yet

We haven't heard anything on Dylan's EEG. The technician who did the test yesterday said we would have the results today. But the receptionist in the doctor's office didn't think they would have them that quickly when Tod called today. My guess is that they have the results, they just haven't had time to read them. Either way I hope we will know something tomorrow.
Tod just got home from work so I'm off to find some major drugs for my kidney stones.

til later....

Dylan's EEG Today

Dylan had his EEG at Stanford this afternoon. He had to be sleep deprived for the test so we had to keep him awake until midnight last night and then wake him at 5 am this morning. This meant mom and dad were sleep deprived, too. It was a real challenge keeping him up until his test at 1pm this afternoon, especially during the 1 hour drive there. The nurse said that he absolutely, positively could not fall asleep before the test! So I sat in the back seat with him to make sure he didn't nod off. We read books and sang songs, ate cookies, but soon his head started nodding and his eyes were closing. We were both shouting "wake up Dylan!" Nothing worked! I had brought a bag of baby carrots along for me to munch on. Since they were cold and wet, I started touching Dylan's face and neck with them and still he wouldn't wake up for more than a second or two. So I started putting the carrots down his shirt. Well, that got his attention! He didn't like that at all and he couldn't get the carrots out of his shirt because of the seat belt and that really made him mad! But it kept him awake until we got there and that was the purpose. He did great for the EEG. Such a big boy even with all the long waits. And the good news is that we should get the results sometime tomorrow. So right now Dylan still has the goop in his hair and we are hoping that both boys will want a nap so we can nap, too. I'll keep you updated.

til later.....

Geology Report

There has been so much going on, I haven't brought you up to date on the kidney stone situation. The CT scan showed 5 stones in my right kidney and 2 in my left. I'm having lithotrypsy done to both kidneys on Friday, Sept. 2. It's an out patient procedure. Then I'm supposed to "take 5 days off"..yeah, right! At least it's a 3 day weekend so Tod will be home to watch the boys.

I'm getting really nervous about school starting Aug 29. Neither of the boys has met their teachers, yet, or seen their classrooms. In fact we still don't know what time Dylan starts school in the morning. Some schools start SpEd classed at a different time than the rest of the classes. Plus we probably won't know anything new on Dylan's seizures since he's not having the EEG til the 22nd. And I'm nervous about that, too. He's had at least 2 more seizures since the one that happened while the tutor was here.

Not much else going on here. The days are a little cooler and the evenings and morning are actually quite chilly. Tod is still working away. The Hannspree store in San Francisco should be opening on Sept. 24. They are also looking at putting certain models of their designer tv's in national chains like Best Buy and Target. We're still waiting for ours, but we're not holding our breath. Actually, we'd be happy with some extra time off around the holidays so we can come back to Rockford for a long holiday weekend. The Taiwanese are not that, how should I say it, they're not very generous around American holidays. So we'll see. I'd at least like to go to Tahoe or somewhere where there is snow. Last christmas was really very depressing and I don't want to do that again.

til later....

The Afore Mentioned Sock Monkey....

.... and my sister, Gerrie!
(She always liked tall men)

It's all about me...

and my trip to Rockford! I had such great time and it was wonderful seeing family and friends. I miss everyone so much. Saturday my sister and I went shopping for Mom's party. We always having a good time when we are together, especially when it comes to making purchases. We always encourage each other to do the right thing and Buy, BUy, BUY!
Saturday night I met "the usual suspects" at Linos for dinner. Tim and Maggie, Nancy and Jeff, and Keith. Marie was busy and Chris had just had hip replacement surgery and couldn't make it. I love Linos pizza and Tod and I miss it terribly. We have not found a good pizza place in Pleasanton. I ordered a whole pizza and then wrapped the left overs up with ice packs and brought them home to Tod. After dinner we went to Tim and Maggies for dessert. We sat in their back yard and talked and laughed. It was great. I felt bad that Tod had to miss it. I know, it sounds like an international coffee moment or miller time. But when you're in a new town and too busy to make new friends, you realize how important time with friends really is.
Sunday was party day for mom and can read all about that in one of the previous posts.
Monday was a great day, too. I had breakfast at Stockholm Inn (swedish pancakes...yum) with Julie Anderson and Bev Cicolello, Dylan and Ethan's preschool teachers. It was so good to see them and catch up on each other's lives a bit. I really miss having such caring and knowledgeable teachers for the boys. I can't say enough about what they have done for our boys and our whole family. California may have some great programs and wonderful opportunities, but so far I've not met one teacher with the capacity for teaching and caring like Julie and Bev.
Next was a hair cut with my hairdresser, Kim. Since I've been in Pleasanton, I have had two trips to the hairdresser and spent $400 for hair I hate. I could have flown Kim to SF, had her cut my hair, and then taken her out for dinner for that price. It was nice to catch up with Kim, too. And, as it turned out, her next client was the daughter of the OT the boys had when they were 2 years old. Dianne had to quit working with the boys because she was pregnant with the little girl that was getting her hair cut!
After the new and reasonably priced do, Nancy picked me up and we went shopping. My favorite kind of shopping. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Hobby Lobby, the Dollar Store. It was shopping heaven. Nancy also took me to eat at Mexican Chipotle which I love and am still trying to pronounce. It was fun to catch up on Nancy's projects, ideas and plans for the future. She always has a new idea or three or four and is looking ahead for a good non-retirement retirement job. She brought my mother and I each a really neat "book thong" with silk ribbon and beads and charms. She's made 50 of them so if you want one let me know. I used mine in my Harry Potter book that I read on the plane.
Tuesday I spent the day with Mom since that was her actual birthday. We shopped at the mall and Mom found a new outfit for herself and a shirt for Lou. Later Tim came by the house to say good-bye and that maybe he and Maggie might be able to visit after the first of the year. Lou came home and took Mom and I to Linos for mom's birthday dinner. Twice in a weekend at Linos was a nice treat. I got to have lasagna this time - Yum!
Then it was time to pack and get ready for the bus to the airport in the morning. It was such a wonderful trip. Tod and I are talking about trying to come back at Christmas with the boys. Last Christmas was so depressing, if we don't get home to Rockford I told Tod he had to take us to Tahoe or someplace were there would be snow to play in. Anyway, we might be home for the holidays!

til later.....

Dylan Update

Dylan had another seizure yesterday morning while the tutor was here. She called me into the room saying there was something wrong with Dylan. He had been chattering while they were working on a number puzzle and he just stopped and stared at the wall. I called his name, held his face so it was facing me and it was just blank. I hugged him, tried playing with him, nothing worked. He was "gone" for 4-6 minutes. He also started turning blue around his mouth and nose. It was so scary. Slowly he came out of it, seeming somewhat confused and smacking his lips. After he sat for a bit with me he asked for chips and then curled up on the sofa and slept for two hours. From what I've read, I don't think we're dealing with Petit Mal seizures. I think it's a different kind and it looks to me as if Dylan may have epilepsy. The EEG isn't set until Aug. 22nd. So we won't know anything for sure until sometime after that. All we can do until then is keep a close eye on him and make sure he's safe. Seizures of this kind aren't fatal, thankfully. If that is what's going on.
Anyway, we appreciate all your positive thoughts and prayers for Dylan.

til later....

The Queen Mom's 80th Birthday!

Mom had a great time at her 80th birthday party! Gerrie and I adorned her with a crown and scepter so she could "hold court" on Sunday afternoon. We decorated her house with fresh flowers and pictures of mom when she was a little girl and a (beautiful) young woman. The guests enjoyed looking at the pictures almost as much as mom did! And so many people showed up, we hardly had room for all of them. There was talking and laughing and it seemed as if everyone really enjoyed themselves. There was still a lot of food left over, though, but with me staying there the cake at least was finished off before I left!
Later that night after everyone had gone and everything was cleaned up (thanks to Lou!), the three of us were so tired but didn't want to end the day quite yet. We started talking about the giant Sock Monkeys in downtown Rockford. For those of you who don't know... Rockford is the home of Nelson Knitting which made the brown socks with red seams called "Rockford Socks". In the early 50's they started making stuffed monkeys out of the Rockford Socks. Anyway, Rockford now has 6 ft fiberglass Sock Monkeys, decorated by local artists, scattered around downtown. Much like the cows in Chicago. My sister was leaving the next day, but really wanted to see the monkeys. So at 10:30 Sunday night, Mom, Gerrie and I hopped in the car and drove downtown to find the monkeys. We found three of them near New American Theater, so we parked and took our pictures with the monkeys! I hope to have copies of them soon and will post here so you can see what I'm talking about. Anyway, we all felt like school girls sneaking out at night to do something naughty! It was a great ending to the day!

til later.....