coyote point

hey, i just popped some ativan and rebecca and i hopped a plane and took the kids down to the gulf of mexico! hardy har har. these were taken today at the lovely coyote point recreation area, just south of the sf airport. i think it is 5 bucks to park and you are in a huge green park on the bay. we parked and ate our snacks on a picnic table by a little marina (where i bought our stereo years ago from a couple who lived on a boat with about 5 cats and about a dozen rabbits). then we played at the little playground before going to the museum. we saw a "porky pine", "a beaver, i mean otter", a bobcat, "a real rattlesnake", "amazing birds and the turkey head bird", a fox, a racoon, and many more. there was a wildlife show at the end of which miles raised his hand in a crowd of about 60 people and asked the demonstrator the environmentally conscious question "why is there a painting on the wall behind you?" i am laughing as i write this--it was a so-so mural of wildlife, and not a bad question. we even saw a friendly rat sitting on someone's shoulders! after the show we spent about 45 minutes in a cavernous room full of detailed and interactive exhibits about the local environment and its critters, but did not actually read anything as r and i were busy supervising 3 little people running up and down and up and down and up and down the endless ramps, with maya taking occasional breaks to dart into little caves or shelters and bang her powerful hands on not so sturdy looking glass walls. afterward we walked on a path up above the bay and leading to a beach through huge eucalyptus trees. maya conked out in her stroller and i carried miles on my shoulders to the beach, which was windy but full of families swimming and fishing. very very nice. we could see san francisco "far, far away" and over to the east bay, the air seemed very clear and clean with little wisps of white clouds. it might be worth looking into the pollution level of this part of the bay, but today we just went for it, maya's little sleeping feet poking out from under her stroller blanket, miles and emily and rebecca and i jumping rapid fire little waves and laughing with the joy that comes from windy sea water.

we topped this day off with a stop at "old macdonald's" for some blecchy food and a back pain filled drive across the city to rebecca's and back, but incredibly the kids were good for 95% of the car ride, and took baths and went to bed with a minimum of screeching or crying (last night bedtime was a hellish hour of "i don't LIKE you" screamed at me full volume for the crime of no video you are too tired). tonight is my last night alone and even if the kids start waking up in a minute i have to say being a single mom for 8 days wasn't too bad.

nighty night. you're the best.