Choice

Finally made our choice, that was not easy...

The Sunshine Boys with Danny DeVito and Sunny Afternoon.

Some more performance arts this weekend inevitable in our destination point

This weekend we are going to have our first trip to Los Angeles.
 According to wikipedia "Los Angeles is often billed as the "Creative Capital of the World," due to the fact that one in every six of its residents works in a creative industry." and "The performing arts play a major role in Los Angeles' cultural identity. According to the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, "there are more than 1,100 annual theatrical productions and 21 openings every week."
That's why I'm now totally busy with reviewing the list of events which turned out to be really huge even for 2 days we are going to spend there and trying to choose the best ones... It's even much more than I'm used to in Moscow and I'm quite confused to make a choice since I'm not at all acquainted with the venues, actors... Hope I'll figure it out and will write about our positive experience afterwards:)

We're going to go to LA by car which is now being repaired and will be hopefully turned back to us by the end of the day. We plan to spend the day tomorrow at the Kings Canyon National Park with it's giant Sequoias, overnight in Bakersfield, spend in LA November 1st and 2nd and take the Highway 101 back home on Sunday enjoying ocean view.

Some cultural events

Finally it's time to write about our cultural life here. It's been almost 3 months since we've moved to San Francisco Bay Area but we've managed to visit 4 theater plays and 1 classical music concert. Not bad even in comparison with my Moscow life-style and definitely better than I've expected.

US government shutdown. How it affects us.

Generally almost doesn't affect. I've heard that the federal parks are closed, but in California there are a lot of State parks, so we had no problems even during our Sonoma week-end. But the plans of our Swiss friend who planned a camping week in some other part of the country were interrupted. Indeed, many of the parks they were planning to visit were (are, they are still travelling) closed.
I called to USCIS and they confirmed that none of their business are affected and all the cases will be processed as usual. These are great news for me.
At the same time a new Russian friend who just came several weeks ago told that Social Security Administration is not issuing now new Social Security Cards. But, again, I luckily succeeded to get one couple of weeks ago.

So for us personally there are no consequences so far.

Weekend in Sonoma Valley...

I...is going very nice so far. Yesterday we slept in an airbnb house at the deck! It was my first experience of sleeping outside (except tent). It was amazing!!! Though sleeping under stars turned out to be a tricky joy. You expect to sleep very well but in reality you cannot make yourself close your eyes because of this magic beautiful view over you. Orion was right under our bed! Unfortunately IPhone camera is not good enough to make picture in the night. Here to the left was our sleeping place, we just carried the matress outside:

Today we're staying in Windsor. Here we have a nice bedroom and chicken living in the garden.

 Came here after hiking in Jack London State Park 

and a tour to the Benziger family winery. 

Everything was very nice though I have to admit that I still couldn't learn to enjoy hiking that much. Not at all....

US government has shut down

I hope it won't interfere the issue of my work permit....

Remote Birthday and a bit about sport

Today is my birthday. It's the first time since many-many years I'm celebrating it without my dear friends, my mom and my brother. Which is actually quite sad. I always used to spend it with them and it was really something special. A day when I can leave behind all day-to-day problems, forget about work-load, just relax and devote myself to those I love. It is strange that they are all somewhere 11 hours ahead of me now and I cannot see and hug them.
That's why I decided not to make a party though normally I always done it. I apologize before my local friends here, I wouldn't just feel comfortable enough, I'm not sure that I would be able to celebrate it with the whole passion... That's why we only have a plan to go to Blank Angus tonigh, it's our favorite (actually almost the only one we've tried) Steak-house and after that to have an evening of Opera singing, the only classical music event I found for Today http://www.philharmonia.org/pergolesi-in-naples/. And at week-end we've planned to spend several days in Sonoma Valley, enjoying wine and Nature.