Sound Bites & Snap Shots

We have been looking forward to this year’s AAP conference in San Diego for quite some time.  It officially starts tonight with the opening reception so we took the opportunity to get settled, wander around the harbor and do a little sightseeing with Bill.  The Convention Center was the hub of the activities.  The boys wanted to chime in with their answers.

To me, the AAP means helping doctors to learn more about helping kids. Signed Walker Selby

To have a good trip and my Dads confrince (sic) and learning about health.  Signed (in cursive), Mason Selby

Bill narrated a tour for the boys and me along the harbor.  He was stationed near here in Group San Diego back when he was in the Coast Guard.  He knows a lot about vessels and took the time to point things out to us along the way.

Mason spotted the skull and crossbones on this ship and wanted Aidan, his best friend, to see how worried he was.

We walked along toward the Coast Guard station

and Bill pointed out how the gates behind where he was standing opened to allow aircraft to travel between the base and the airport across the street.

We took a short pedicab ride back from the harbor to our hotel to swim before we had to be at the convention center for our first official AAP activity.

I would venture to say that this ride was one of Mason’s favorite moments of the morning.

On our way back to the center, I snapped a picture of the view for the poor souls back home who needed to see some sun and palm trees 

and the boys climbed what we learned were coral trees.

It was noon when we boarded the bus to be shuttled out to Thrive.  Every year the AAP does a community service project that helps kids.  We have never participated in the past but because the boys are older, we could and did this year.  We were part of a group of 60 people. 

Thrive moved into this building a few days before the school year started.  It is in a low income area and the building houses both the school, currently kindergarten and sixth grade, and a clinic. Because the move was fast and furious before school started, they still had not had a chance to really settle in.  The AAP guide met with their director in advance and they had come up with about a dozen projects for us to do from painting to gardening to organizing to moving and lifting.  We divided into teams.  Walker and I chose to set up the computer lab and library.  (These are the after shots.)

Unfortunately, I did not get a before picture but take my word for it that many hands make light work and the results were tremendous.  This is our team.  We worked for around 4 hours on this space.  People kept bringing us boxes of books and other materials to add to the bookshelves.  Many times we were walking over and around piles and boxes but you would never guess that from what the clear space and open floor.

Meanwhile, Bill and Mason painted bathrooms.

At the end, I found Mason playing a game with the kids on the playground.  I have to admit, it was really gratifying to be a part of this project.  The staff and children were so appreciative to see so many people come out and help.

Our adventure (and our faces) made the AAP newsletter…(if you click it, it will enlarge)

We wrapped up the day with a long awaited Mexican meal.  Bill and I had memories of a certain restaurant in an area of San Diego called Old Town.  The restaurant was near a fountain and known for its large margaritas and fresh tortillas made right in front of you by women on a giant comal.  When we were at the convention center, I snapped a picture of this advertisement which I remembered as the one. 

So we met Chrissy, her boyfriend John and her daughters there.  The food was quite good but Bill quietly approached me and said it wasn’t the one he remembered.  Afterwards, we walked around Old Town and found ourselves in spot with shops, restaurants and live music.  There, in the corner was the restaurant Bill remembered.  Boy, did I feel silly that we were so close and yet we missed our opportunity.  Thankfully, we have plans to have another Mexican meal before we leave so there is still hope! 

Tomorrow is the official start to the conference and the boys and I have plans to meet up with friends for a fun day.