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Celebrating in Austin The month began with celebrations for these 2!
Don and I headed to Austin to enjoy a weekend of eating, drinking and playing.
Don's landmark birthday meant he did some extra candle blowing. Charlie was happy to help. What a perfect way to start the month! To California A few days later, Don and I flew west and continued celebrating with Scott and Chali in Lake Tahoe. 
Weather was perfect and we got in some good walks and hikes. Good Meals & Good Views We ate well during our 5 day visit! The most memorable meal was a special dinner planned by Scott and Cha. Lone Eagle Grille, overlooking Lake Tahoe! Relaxing & Playing While hanging out at the hotel, we got in some ping pong and puzzling. There was also fishing and shopping... an old car show and posing with a giant flip flop! Back in Sac After Tahoe, we joined Chali's parents in Sacramento.  It's been 7 years since we 5 have been together! Thai Feast and Sound Bath During our 3 day stay, we enjoyed a little museum time and I even caught a Hitchcock movie at Tower Theatre. But the real highlights had to do with sound and taste... One night Chali invited the parents to a Sound Bath experience! What a magical night thanks to Chali's guidance, inside the glorious geodome. The last night we feasted on Linda's amazing Thai dishes! A perfect end to a wonderful visit. Wine, Coast & Redwoods! We headed for the wine country after Sacramento.  We had gorgeous weather during our visit with our old neighbors, Lorrie and John.
We hiked through through the Redwoods and along the coast, at Bodega Bay They took us to some wonderful spots, where we sampled good wine and enjoyed fish tacos and oysters. 45th Anniversary in Hollywood Don and I headed south and spent a couple nights in Hollywood, celebrating our 45th anniversary.
One night at the Roosevelt, right on Hollywood Boulevard. The next night at the kitschy Magic Castle Hotel, next-door to the iconic Magic Castle. Both hotels were a blast. At the Roosevelt, I swam in the pool where Marilyn Monroe once posed for a publicity photo. At Magic Castle, I sat near the pool and called the Popsicle Hotline! Hollywood in 2 Days We definitely couldn't do it all, in 2 days.  But we could sort of see it all, from Yamoshiro Restaurant, high above Hollywood. Our hotels were entertaining enough. But we had to get out and enjoy some nearby fun. Besides wandering the famous sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, we ventured a little further. Our evening at the Magic Castle was extra entertaining, with guests arriving in costume. During a lunch at Chateau Marmont Hotel, we spotted a couple of celebrities. Posing in Joshua Tree From Hollywood we drove east and explored Joshua Tree National Park. (Don's shirt matched the tree!)
Not far from the park, we spent a night at Hicksville Trailer Palace. An quirky place! We slept in a quaint (but weary) vardo gypsy wagon, once a movie prop. We met some interesting people in the Joshua Tree area. After a night in the desert, we headed southwest. Laguna Beach It's been over 40 years since we lived in Laguna Beach.
It hasn't changed much. Thank goodness. We had fun visiting some of our old favorite places. Absolutely loved staying at what was once the old Laguna Rivera... which HAS changed. In a good way! Last Stop Oceanside! Friend's Cliff and Rhona welcomed us a little further down the coast!  From their home we could walk to the beach and restaurants and even to the annual Los Dias de la Muertos Festival. We left the neighborhood to hike in Carlsbad and to dine in San Diego's new, LEILA restaurant. Delicious Middle Eastern dishes served in a magical setting, beneath a ceiling of glowing stars! Home We flew home on the 30th. I didn't find time to carve the pumpkins on the last day of the month, but we made sure to get to the polls before early voting ended.
We didn't get to see this sweet girl on Halloween, but we got her costume photos. And we actually had a few trick-or-treaters at our door!
It felt good to end October, voting for the next president. I'm trying to stay positive about how this next month begins! I want a good future for this little girl, as well as our other future grand kiddos.
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