TuzigootJournal: Monterey -- Report 2

Greetings, All.

Well, one week of class completed. I have nine students: three from the US Navy, two from the US Army, one each from the Navys of Bahrain, Korea, and Greece, and one civilian. All sharp and attentive. International students comprise about 25% of the students here. The highest ranking student is a Navy Commander -- a PhD candidate who plans to teach Math at the Naval Academy. Also have one faculty member -- a lecturer, who teaches a distance-learning beginning stat class -- sitting in on the class. He says he likes what I say! Managed to get a few smiles at some of my hilarious comments.

I have a nice schedule -- Lectures M, Tu,W; computer lab on Th, all from 1000 - 1050. That's military time for you civilians. Glad I don't have an afternoon class and have to figure out when 1400 is. As long as I can stay a week ahead with my class notes, this schedule will give us a 3.5-day weekend, Th-pm - Sunday.

This past Th, we went to lunch at a nice cafe here in Marina, then drove down to Carmel-by-the-Sea. We strolled among the shops and galleries, then drove Carmel's scenic drive along the coast. Carmel has lots of cottages that look like they could be lived in by trolls, or at least have their gardens tended by trolls. Very Hansel and Gretel looking. Also some large modern places, too.

Friday we drove about six miles north of here to Castroville for lunch at the world-famous Giant Artichoke Restaurant. Susie's on an artichoke quest out here so this seemed like a good place to start, as you can see from this picture.

Here's some artichoke facts from Susie:

The artichoke is native to the Mediterranean region. The vegetable we eat is actually the edible flower bud of the thistle-like plant in the sunflower family. Been eaten for 3000 years but became obscure during the fall of Rome--revived in Italy in the mid-15th century--then taken to France by Catherine de Medici at age 14--married to King Henry II of France....regained major popularity.

Now 100% of US commercial artichoke crop grown in California. In full growth the plant spreads to cover area about six ft. in diameter and reaches height of 3 to 4 feet. Peak season is spring and fall--140 varieties--less than 40 varieties are grown commercially.

The Artichoke Capital of US is Castroville, California--be still my heart. There's a festival there in May.

We looped home via Salinas, then made a Costco stop. Can't put too much Costco-size groceries and other stuff in Tuzigoot, though.

Speaking of Tuzigoot, here's how we set up the living room. We got a 4-ft. folding table for my laptop and our printer. It's sitting where the recliner usually is. We moved that out into the center of the room, sort of in the kitchen, just out of sight in the foreground of this picture. Susie has her computer on the kitchen table, so you can see our priorities.

Also, here's a shot of our "yard."

We've been sort of scouting out other sites in the RV Park, but think we'll stay here. There are some larger sites, but we're not sure they're worth the additional expense.

We haven't used the grill yet. The weather has been very repeatable -- lows in mid-to-high 40s, highs in high 50s-low 60s. Oops, this morning it was 38. Not real conducive to evening cook-outs. It's really chilly when you're exposed to wind coming off the ocean.

Saturday, while looking for the Monterey Methodist Church we found the Del Monte shopping center in Monterey -- a large place anchored by Macy's, Mervyn's, P.F. Chang's, and more. We hadn't known about this shopping center -- can you believe that?

Sunday was humor Sunday at Monterey Methodist. Preacher said historically the Sunday after Easter was a time for practical jokes. She decided to update that tradition with humor Sunday two weeks after Easter, which as you recall, came early this year. Theme was: Jesus is the life of the party. Several congregation members got up and told jokes as the service went along.

Woman dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter says I'll let you in if you can spell love. She does it correctly and he admits her. Asks her, though, to watch the gate while he runs an errand. Her husband shows up (we're not told how the two of them happened to expire at nearly the same time). He asks to enter. She says, Can you spell Czechoslovakia?

Man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter says you're not on the list -- we're not expecting you until next week. So, we're going to send you back. But, in the meantime make sure you can answer the following three questions: 1. What two days of the week start with T? 2. How many seconds are there in a year? 3. What is God's first name?

A week later the man is back. SP asks, what days of the week start with T? Man says today and tomorrow. SP is not sure, but says OK. Next, how many seconds in a year? Man says 12. What? You know, January 2nd, February 2nd, .... -- 12 seconds. That's not what SP expected, but he says he'll take that answer. Now, what is God's first name? Man answers, Andrew. What? says SP. Man says, The answer is right there in the hymnal: Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, ...

There were also a few church bulletin bloopers read: "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands."

Finished up with communion featuring little-fish crackers and orange juice. This may all sound a little slapsticky, but we enjoyed it all.

After church we went down to Cannery Row for lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and some souvenir shopping. Gump wasn't there this time.