For Reals?

Here I was, feeling all awesome and caught up on the blog posts when I found it...the dreaded file of pictures I had ignored.  I have vague memories of slapping these up on Facebook, but nothing past that.  And since Bryce and I don't get to travel as much as we'd like to, when we do it's important to remember it.  

In late August, I was registered for an Employment Law conference update in San Francisco.  I left on Wednesday, and the plan was for Bryce to join me Friday, and we'd make a weekend of it.  Grandma and Grandpa Thomsen and Pa and Nana took turns with the boys, and we had a great little break.  

My flight into San Fran was the best ever.  I'm pretty sure there were about 15 people on the flight.  Ahhh, row after row of empty seats.  It was spectacular.

The conference itself was pretty fascinating.  I don't talk too much about my job on the blog, or anywhere else, mostly because I have to be so careful about what I say and who I say it about.  But I love what I do.  Part of what I do is to write settlement agreements and to try to protect the University from risks associated with disciplinary action.  The conference was a run-down of all of the big court decisions so far this year and how they affect public-sector employers.  Some of the presenters were better than others, but it was definitely good information.  

The other thing that was absolutely fantastic was to be able to spend a little time on my own.  I watched whatever I wanted on TV.  I painted my toenails.  I read racy novels.  I wandered around the city.  (Although I was poo-bombed on the head by a pigeon.  Not so awesome.)

Friday finally arrived, and Bryce flew in.  We knew we didn't have much time in the city, so really just tried to relax and enjoy.  We walked down to the wharf:

We ate a delicious dinner of various meats/cheeses and bread.

We rode the trolley. 

Saturday, we went to the natural history museum.  They had an absolutely fascinating rainforest exhibit running.  We saw snakes,

Spiders,

Lizards,

And beautiful butterflies and birds - just floating randomly through the trees:

We ended the day by going up to Coit Tower.  The view was definitely spectacular, but riding up a small elevator car crammed with other folks is not my idea of a good time.

It was great just to spend time with Bryce and walk through the city.  Everyone needs a small vacation every once in a while!