La Jolla/San Diego, Oct 23-25

 October 23 - We left Venice Beach via Costco for gasoline and arrived in White Sands at La Jolla around 11:30. Frank Morral was there to greet us and we checked into a guest room, thanks to Frank and Linda. We can only stay one night because the guest rooms are all booked.
   We went to lunch with Frank and Linda. It was so lovely that we were able to sit outside. Later, Barbara joined them for their hour-long dog gathering in the early afternoon. It was nice to get to know some of their friends. (Ocho and Rojo are their dogs) At 4 o'clock we went to a gathering for Octoberfest outside their dining hall and then went into lunch. They have really good food where they live with lots of variety.

 October 24 - We met Frank and Linda at 7:30 for breakfast. We checked out of our room and met Frank and Linda for a program called "Great Decisions." People read essays, accompanied by a video, about major topics. The topic today was the State of the U.S. State Department. It included a history of the department and the way the Trump administration has denigrated and decimated it. Thought provoking.

White Sands from a beach walk

   Afterwards, we drove to University of California at San Diego where we met with Michael Maury who works there.  First, he gave us a tour of where he works. Michael got some acting work there a number of years ago, hired by the school to work with their medical students. For the last five years, he has worked there as an administrator. The facility is amazing. He took us to the state-of-the-art mock Operating Rooms where students are observed by two-way glass in their diagnostic skills, interaction with the 'patients' etc. He also showed us very sophisticated mannikins where doctors learn/practice lapraroscopic surgeries. And, he showed us a not-yet-opened futuristic Operating Room.

    Walking around with Michael, it is clear that he is well liked and appreciated. Then he took us for a tour of the center of campus - very impressive. We saw the Geisel Library and we got food at the Student Center and went outside on some shady steps and ate.

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Geisel Library

   Then we drove to the Best Western Hotel on Shelter Island where we will be for 2 nights. We went to the hot tub and relaxed for a bit and then we walked to the end of the island for the sunset.
October 25
  First, happy birthday to our NEW daughter-in-law, Maura, born on the same day as my dearest childhood friend, Kathy!
   Today we drove over to see Frank and Linda and joined them at White Sands for lunch. We also accompanied them to the Puppy Gathering that they attend most days. We sat in their apartment, chatted and solved world problems.
     We went back to our hotel and had a nice stay in the hot tub while we charged the Clarity at the Blink charging station across the way. (Our first use of Blink)

      We went out to eat at a very good Thai restaurant, Supannee on Shelter Island. It was fantastic. We had delicious summer rolls with shrimp to start the meal. Mark had Thai hot basil stir fry which was excellent and Barbara had lemongrass chicken, also very good. It was a real find.