A first for us since having a second child: we spent our Christmas week away from home base in Northern Arizona in a timeshare. Grammer joined us for the week; we had a small live tree with purple lights and some fun small presents (all easy to pack in our bags for the flight home).

Highlights: Grammer and Kathryn playing Russian Bank and trash talking each other. The Grand Canyon with 2-3 feet of snow everywhere. Excellent sweet potato fries at the Sedona Pines Bistro. A white Christmas. Walking the vortex at Cathedral Rock. The mountains. The yarn shop in Jerome, AZ. Jerome, AZ built on the side of a mountain. Indian ruins (Wupatki, Montezuma’s Castle). The best darn cafe in the Verde Valley – great food.

I turned off the iPhone.

As compulsive as I am about email, that is a HUGE deal. Vacation is really supposed to be just that. Leave the real world alone (it will survive without me, although I may have 300+ emails waiting when I get back), sleep in, lay around in my jammies, have coffee I make, sit on the sofa and knit IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY without guilt.

That’s only a partial list of my ideal vacation. Here are some other points to consider:

VACATION = views (mountains, ocean, family faces, historical places), cozy accomodations (cottage, hotel room or cruiseship cabin), good coffee and coffee-maker, great shopping (window/art galleries), optional activities (walking, horses, tours, spa day, conversation, blogging), good food (home-cooked or eat out).

And, alone time.

For over 20 years, we have been paying bridge tolls for the car behind us. Think about that: driving up to the booth and someone already paid! (No small thing in the Bay Area, as we have 7 toll bridges that I can name right off the bat.) It was fun, and hopefully made a difference for those drivers.

Last night, someone paid for us! Wow.

It was a fabulous topper to an amazing afternoon and evening. Spencer and I drove to Alameda to get our boat, with the intention of moving her to Pier 39 and then taking the ferry/bus back to the car. We accomplished that, although it was about 5 hours later than we expected. More details on the other blog (ultimatecypher.wordpress.com).

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be piloting my boat (our boat) across the San Francisco Bay on a clear, mostly windless night with the entire City and Bay Area lit up. And a moon and stars overhead. Words fail me.

Nothing like staring out the window when the weather is not quite stormy and not quite clear.

I am contemplating a pair of men’s socks and deciding what kind of toe to knit to complete these. I have already agonized for a year and a half over 1) choosing the yarn, 2) choosing the pattern, 3) HOW MANY STITCHES?, 4) pattern on the foot or not?, 5) ran out of yarn – what to feather in that will look like it belongs and NOW 6) the toe.

Add to all of this, that I sold these “hand-knit socks” at a school auction in March 2008. Poor Steve probably thinks he will NEVER get them (little does he know). I think they are going to turn out quite well.

Perhaps a sail would be a good make-up for the looooong wait?

Things are beginning to happen over there on the other blog.  Our sailboat, she be ours, in our hands, with sail hoisted on Friday.  Keeping fingers crossed that she will be in the water as planned, all repairs made and bound for Pier 39 harbor.

Miss K is working backstage for the Coastal Rep (Holiday Memories) as a logistical titan.  She loves it – what a great way to spend nights and weekends!

Miss A is almost done with her first college semester and is selling lots of beautiful things at Zero Meridian (I am so impressed).  She has also been working/performing with Blue Blanket Improv!

DH is browsing sailboat equipment web sites, in between consulting hours and regaling me with stories of boatyards, and provisions.

I am finally staying up a bit past my self-imposed bedtimes to the real sleep time.  And blogging.  And thinking about who to take sailing with us.  And composing an auction item for the Peninsula School Auction in March.  There are a few people there with some money who might like to have a nice sail on San Francisco Bay WITH brunch/lunch/souvenirs!  LOL.

DH and I are co-administering a blog for our new sailboat (officially ours sometime next week), Ultimate Cypher.  Check it out.  Watch for sailing info, tips, tricks, photos, cool gadgets and iPhone aps, provisioning lists, comments and what not.  Hoo boy.

In a flash moment, I thought of Patrick Swayze in the context of my life and touchstones.  It occurred to me that contemporaries of mine are dying.  In much the same way, someone in their 80s may have felt their mortality as well-known persons of their generation passed on.

My time is coming.  It may still be far off, it may not.  But no matter what, I am questioning what kind of legacy I might leave.  Folks speak of children being one’s legacy, but really that is such a small part.  I measure my legacy (and anyone else’s) by the friendships I have had, the generosity of my children (they MUST have gotten that from me), the pieces of creativity I scattered amongst my friends and acquaintances,  the little tasks I took on so someone else could skip them, the space of laughter that my body filled.

When I got my iTouch, it took a couple of weeks to decide what the engraving would be before I could order it.  It really resonates for me:  LIVE.  LAUGH.  LOVE.  KNIT.  I want my friends to say that I engaged and really lived – that I wasn’t just sitting around letting Life happen.  Shit happens, but to live you gotta get out there and be proactive.

Quite possibly the best Rum Cake recipe EVER.

****Makes 12 servings.

• 1/2 c. walnuts or pecans, chopped
• 1 each 3.4 oz. pkg of instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 pkg. yellow cake mix
• 1/2 c. light rum
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/2 c. vegetable cooking oil (Crisco is my choice – I do not like canola)
• 4 eggs

Step 1:  Grease and flour a 10″ bundt pan.  Sprinkle the nuts evenly around the bottom.

Step 2:  Combine all of the other ingredients in a large bowl and mix for 2-3 minutes (until blended and smooth).

Step 3:  Pour batter gently over the top of the nuts in the bundt pan and bake at ~325 degrees F for 50-60 minutes. (I check it at 50 and generally leave it for 5 more.)

Step 4:  Remove from oven and puncture all over with a cake tester or sharp, slim knife.  Prepare glaze while it starts to cool.

Step 5:  Glaze:  Heat 1 c. sugar, 1/2 c butter, 1/4 c rum and 1/4 c water in a saucepan to boiling, stirring constantly.

Step 6:  Put glaze in a plastic measuring/pouring cup.  Gently pour over cake in the pan.  Let sit for 30 minutes and remove.  NOTE:  This is better left overnight, or at least as long as possible before turning out of the pan.  Use a nice cake platter for presentation!

Recently (September), the Coastside Thursday night knitting group lost their spot at the Hatch Library and I volunteered to sponsor the weekly group at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club facility.  We had just finished (mostly) a new addition, that was “well-lit” with nice tables and a lot of space.  The group fluctuates in size but usually at least a dozen knitters show up.  WOW.  Who knew?  I had no idea it would be so popular.  Of course, the footing will be trickier once it rains, but rain or shine, I get my 3 hours in.

Almost two years ago, I decided to start knitting at Peet’s Coffee in Half Moon Bay on Saturday mornings.  Marina and Anne went along with me (THANK YOU) and at least one of us has been there every week since then.  This morning, we had 2 new additions to the group, one of whom drove from South San Francisco (she found us on the Stitch ‘N Bitch site!), and the other whose sister came on Thursday evening and was “dragged along.”

I enjoy this group so much (same group, different locations).  After kids get tall and stop needing parental shuttles to playgroups, moms AND dads need new playgroups and these are mine!  I cannot imagine missing unless sickness or a high school class reunion or sail on the Bay got in the way.

Ultimate Cyper – she is under contract, subject to a check-out sail and survey.  I am holding my breath (figuratively speaking).

For those who care, she is a 2001 Hunter 410.

We’ll be hunting some good times.