The adventure begins...sort of...SF style!

After 6 months of planning and one amazing travel agent (thanks Considerate Connie!), the Wheeler Girls - Jody, Julia, and Amy, are off on a whirlwind adventure to New Zealand and Australia over the next 3 weeks...

It all started in upstate NY on Sat. April 4th when Rockin' Rod (aka Papa Wheeler) delivered his lovely wife Joyous Jody (aka Mama Wheeler) to lovely little Albany INTERNATIONAL Airport (a relatively recent upgrade from Albany COUNTY Airport...hmm is that for the approx. one flight a day to Canada?!). Jody made it to Chicago no problem, didn't hear a gate change but still made her flight to SFO which unfortunately included a 30+ woman (not a child) who wouldn't let her put her seat back and kicked it repeatedly. How rude! Julia picked her up at 11pm/PST, all luggage arrived safely and they crashed in her cute mini apartment - Mama getting the bed and Julia on the comfy couch. Sleepover party!

After 6 months of planning...

Sun. April 5th was BEAUTIFUL in SF! We picked up Nifty Niko and had a scrumptious breakfast at Pat's Cafe including crab cake benedict, french toast with fruit on top, and banana granola pancakes - plus a mimosa to "help" Julia's sore throat. Then we dropped Niko on a corner and headed off to the raffle for $25 Wicked tickets. We didn't win the raffle but got the consolation prize - $40 seats on the edge of the orchestra (right next to very nice people who paid $100 a seat!). Mama loved every minute - each new song her favorite, and Julia (a few rows back) still got chills even though it's her FOURTH viewing and Elphaba was played by an understudy! That night was another amazing SF meal at Sauce with Devilish Donna and Playful Pieter - bacon wrapped scallops AND meatloaf - need I say more?! Mama just laughed and laughed at us crazy SF kids...

Mon. April 6th Julia dropped Jody at Fisherman's Wharf where she took a 1-hour bay cruise (another PERFECT SF day), took pictures of the seals, checked out the Museum Mechanique, and had lunch over looking the water at McCormick and Kuletos. Then she headed to explore the Japanese Tea and Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park before heading home for a much needed rest. Julia worked all day and then they both went out to the latest neighbohood find - Allegro Romano with Pleasant Paul and Kool Kristen and of course Lively Lorenzo. Great conversation plus carpaccio, risotto, and lovely roses to take home.

Tues. April 7th Julia chauffered Jody to the Academy of Sciences on the potentially the busiest day EVERY - school holiday and rain - oh boy. Jody navigated the crowds like a champ taking in the rain forest, the planitarium show, the living roof, the aquarium, and even the albino alligator. She then mustered the energy to investigate the DeYoung tower and exhibits before taking a taxi home for a BIG nap. Julia worked all day, rushed home to power pack, then they got dolled up, picked up Niko and hit up the Verdi Club for a quick swing lesson followed by dancing to the cool tunes of Stompy Jones till the wee hours.

Wed. April 8th Jody stayed home to take care of the laundry and other last minute necessities, including a burger at Polkers. Julia wrapped things up at work, passing all her projects off to the HIGHLY capable team covering for her while she galavants around the globe. A quick hour more to pack and then Marvelous Maria took us to SFO where we boarded the ENORMOUS Air New Zealand flight. Due to savvy seat selection we had a row of 3 for the two of us with plenty of room to stretch while we watched Slumdog Millionaire, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 4 Holidays, The Wrestler and chowed down on some seriously suspect airline "food" then mostly slept through turbulence to successfully land in NZ.