Fun Holiday Weekend With Bestie & Her Son

Over the Labor Day weekend, K (my best friend since middle school came to viist from Alalabama and  along with her A, (her seven year of son) for his first cross country flight. They arrived at LAX on Fraiday and stayed with hubby and I over the weekend they left on Labor Day afternoon.

Me, Friend K, and her son A

The first stop once K and A arrived was In-N-Out Bruger for their famous burgers and french fries.

K enjoying an In-N-Out burger and fries

A enjoying an In-N-Out burger

Since me and K are avid readers, out next stop after In-N-Out was "The Last Bookstore" which is a used bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. We all enjoyed checking browsing the store, taking photos and buying books to read later.

K and A in front of The Last Bookstore

The second day, we took K and A to Mission Beach in San Diego so they can enjoy playing in the waves follwed by going to the nearby Belmont Park for them to ride amusement park rides. 

Me, K and A at Mission Beach

Hubby with A at Mission Beach

K and A at Mission Beach

K and A sitting in big chair at Belmont Park

The third day of K and A 's visit to California, hubby and I decided to give them the Disneyland experience without actually going to Disneyland or California Adventure by taking them to a character breakfast at the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel. 

Mickey Mouse, K, and A

After a delicious breakfast and plenty of photo opportunities for K and A, we took them to Downtown Disney since A loves Legos. While in Downtown Disney, K and A enjoyed churros for the first time then K bought A a Lego kit to take home with him back to Alabama.

K and A in front of Downtown Disney sign

A and K enjoying a churro

A in front of the Downtown Disney Lego Store

The evening of the third day, hubby and I took K and A to Knotts Berry Farm since A loves Snoopy and we had fun seeing "Ghosts Town Alive" and riding rides at Campy Snoopy

Me, A, and K in big chair at Knotts Berry Farm

Following four days of fun with K and A, it was time for them to return back to Alabama. As we dropped K and A off at the airport, K promised to return to California with A next year since she feels there's a lot more places she and A wanted to explore.

Me and K saying goodbye at airport

Reunited (And It Feels So Good)

 I recently had an opportunity to visit my old library system, the Kings County Library system in Hanford, CA after having left in April 2021and I was able to catch up with my old co-workers. First, I visited my old job headquarters was suprised to see Chris, a former co-worker I used to supervise and had retired before I left the library for another job back working in the library. After seening Chris, it was also fun to catch up with co-workers as well as a former library graduate student whose work I supervised and is now worrking as the digital services librarian for the library system. 

Kings County Library - Hanford Branch

Me and employee Chris 

Me and co-worker Brian

Me and co-worker Sherman

Me and work BFF Farrah

Me and co-worker Ashley

Following visitng the Hanford Branch library, I stopped by the Lemoore Branch library to see my favorite co-worker Barbara. Me and Barbara worked closely together on various work projects so I was happy to see that she was promoted to Lemoore branch lead after I left Kings County to work at the Beaumont Library.

 

Kings County Library - Lemoore Branch

Me and former co-worker Barbara

After visiting with Barbara in Lemoore, I stopped by another library branch that I used to supervise which was the Stratford branch library and see Viviana, a favorite employee I supervised.

Kings County Library - Stratford Branch 

Me and former employee Viviana

After visiting eveyone at the various library locations, I ended my visit to Kings County by visiting Jodi, a former library patron who later become a wonderful friend.

Me and former library patron/friend Jodi

Having finished my visit to my old library and seeing old co-workers, I was happy to see that everyone is finding ways to adapt to changes in the library system such as having a new library director.

Overall, I left Kings County feeling glad that despite being gone for years, everyone was still happy to see me and was transparent about how things hae been since I left as well as life outside of the library.