Found in Fishers

The streets of San Francisco

For some of us the streets of San Francisco hark back to Karl Malden and Michael Douglas and their 1970s TV show. Others might pair San Francisco with Rice-A-Roni...the San Francisco treat...or alternative lifestyles. We will fondly remember San Francisco for the worst weather in 2005: driving rain, winds of 70-90 mph, record flooding in the Napa Valley region, and highways leading to the Bay Bridge closed due to landslides.

Regardless, we made the most of it and managed to score guaranteed reservations with the Blue & Gold Fleet for a trip to Alcatraz Island. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco this will be the best $16 a head you spend. The guided audio tour brings the former penitentiary alive with the sounds of life being bars and is narrated by former guards and inmates. But book your tour online a good week before you'll be in the city. Our time on "The Rock" on New Year's Eve day was especially memorable as we listened to a former inmate describe how prisoners would line A Block on New Year's Eve and listen quietly for the sounds of partiers blowing across the bay and realizing what they were missing. Rounding out the day was a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge. What a view! And floating under the bridge I swear we saw Liz's flip-flops that the wind blew into the bay earlier in the day. Dork!

About the photo to the right: This is the cell occupied by Frank Morris who, along with two brothers, created elaborate dummies and a raft and escaped from Alcatraz. Well at least they disappeared from Alcatraz. Prison officials believe they died tying to cross the treacherous bay. In any event, it's a fascinating story. You can learn more by going here or watching this movie. 

Wet-n-wild adventures in San Francisco

The weather gods delivered in trump today: Rain, rain, and more rain. The icing on our vacation cake is that today and tomorrow's (New Year's Eve) weather will be the worst this year in San Francisco! But our hearty Hoosier spirits aren't easily broekn and so we loaded up the big 'ole rental Towncar and headed across the Bay Bridge for Frisco. First stop: Haight Ashbury, the always trendy neighborhood that's a throwback to the 60s and hippie culture. Liz loved it and kept wallet diving through the Boss Lady's purse for more dinero.

Then it was on to Fisherman's Wharf and a bayside lunch of terribly over-priced white fish -- 10 bucks a pop for 2 pieces, but the gulls and driving rain made it all worthwhile :) -- and a ringside seat for the bushman.  Bushman is a wharf regular who's been harrassed, ticketed, and jailed for trying to earn a few bucks scaring the snot out of us tourist types. Crouching in front of garbage cans, he hides behind a few eucalyptus branches and then jumps out and yells "Ugga-bugga!" It's priceless, as are his off-color one liners.

Drove Lombard Street, went to Coit Tower for a fabulously rainy and windy view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge. Way too early tomorrow morning we're headed back to San Francisco for the Alcatraz tour, a ride on the Powell-Hyde cable car line, and a trip across the Golden Gate up to Battery Park. All of this in the rain and wind...with gusts of up to 90 mph! And they call Chicago the Windy City! We rounded out the day with dinner at a local In-N-Out Burger in Pleasanton, CA. These folks start out their fast-food help at $9.25 an hour! And the ain't all that bad, either. If you're in California be sure to check 'em out.

Amigo, is almost free for you

If you've ever been in southern California and not ventured into Tijuana, then you've missed the proverbial boat mi amigo. And if you've avoided the world's busiest border crossing because "bad things" happen in Mexico, believe it or not "bad things" -- the same kind of bad things -- happen in any  major city in the world. Because TJ is just too much fun to take a pass on, and because kids don't pimp Chicklets along stateside sidewalks, we headed south of the border the day after Christmas for the umpteenth time. In a city of such mottos as "Cheaper than Kmart," "Almost free for you honeymooner," "More than 100% off for you my friend," and "If we don't have it you don't need it," what's more appropriate than a knock-off of the St. Louis Arch to greet visitors.

If you can't buy it in Tijuana, then you don't need it. You're surrounded by a kaleidoscope of Nemos, Spidermen (Hombre Aranja) and Harry Potters. If you're a Homer and Marge fan you can bargain for a couple of great puppets,  or you can take Darth home with you. Even when glimpsed from the sidewalks, the wildly colorful shopping stalls are irrestibly intriguing. And if you're a bit more adventuresome there exists a quieter, gentler Tijuana with sights, sounds, tastes and experiences even far more interesting just off the main shopping drags.

Rounding off Day 2: Dinner at Casa Guadalajara in the Old Town district of San Diego. As the dining find of last year's trip, this eatery was worthy of a repeat visit and no one went away hungry. In fact, we were seated at exactly the same table as a year ago! Tomorrow morning we'll head back to Old Town and Bazaar el Mundo before heading back north to LA. See ya then, gringo!

Have yourself a Cali little Christmas...

While you enjoyed a rainy or snowy Christmas day -- depending on whether you're a Region Rat or Fishers-ite (yeah, we know it's not a word but it's our blog and not yours) -- we dined outside at Fred's in sunny San Diego. Somehow homemade salsa and a big 'ole ice cold margarita make Christmas just a bit merrier when you know friends and family are freezing their kiesters off back north!

Dinner was a bit more on the down low with a trip to the AM PM Mini Mart. Seems that most folks closed up shop in the early evening and we tourist types were left out in the cold...so to speak. We were a day late and two minutes short from making it to the Jack in the Box next door to our hotel. I wonder if this is what Mary and Joseph experienced roaming around Bethlehem looking for a place to lay their travel-weary heads two milleniums ago. Maybe a new bumper sticker is called for this holiday season: No Jesus, No Food.

Which reminds us of church. Where did you worship this Christmas day? Probably not at the XXXchurch of San Diego. That's right folks, a church that caters to the porn-addicted Christian with such notables as Wally the Wiener and "Jesus loves porn stars" t-shirts. Don't believe us? We read about it in a local newspaper and you can read about it yourself. And to think we thought it would be neat to worship at the Crystal Cathedral.

Check back tomorrow for more from southern California and the Found in Fishers gang...

Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas to all...

After a belly-bulging Christmas Eve dinner and package-opening extravaganza, the Fishers' nuts are winging our way westward bright and early Christmas morning for LA, San Diego, San Francisco, and yes...Mexico. We've decided to make this an annual outing after a rousing good time at last year's  Rose Bowl Parade. So while you're weathering Indiana's holiday weather we'll diligently do our best coping with the 71-degree southern California Christmas. In the meantime, we trust that Santa brought Cameron and the good folks at Ryland lots of nails and dry wall tape for our new home. And be sure to stay tuned to this page for daily updates from the coast. 

...and to all a good night!

Up on the rooftop

(Sing along with the tune)
Up on the rooftop workers pause; just in time for Santa Claus.
The roof is finished one, two, three; Makin' the Reichanadters oh happy.
Ho ho ho who would of known; Ho ho ho who would of known.
Up on the roof top click click click; What a surprise for old St. Nick!!

I don't do windows...they do!
Surprise...another great change. We have windows! Just another step closer to the house finishing up on the outside. Must have gotten too hot inside, some of the windows were left open. :)

I can't believe my eyes!

Santa sent his little elves to Fishers and look what happened! This picture was taken today, Monday, Dec. 19th. This is the progress in just one workday. Talked to construction manager Cameron he said that we should expect the hvac and back screened porch in by week's end and the electric just after Christmas. We found a little elf to help take pictures next week while we are getting some R and R as well.
Keep watching.

Let the framing begin

The weather has held out long enough through the fog, snow, and ice storms to get a busy crew of construction workers back on site to start the frame of our house. How excited we are to actually see some real progress being made. Found the framing quite by accident one morning during the week just killing some time. Because the weather has not been too great in central Indiana, we expected further delays but boy were we surprised. The framing will be complete before Christmas with the electrical being put in on Dec. 27th. Every day we are getting closer to moving out of this apartment.

Keep watching ; we expect a lot changes in a short amount of time.

AND THE WINNER IS. . .

Well after much consideration and the fact that Christmas is just a week away.  The judges have reviewed the many entries submitted to the Reichanadter Christmas Card Contest. 

The winner is. . .

A tie!  We just could not decide between the two we thought were the most clever.  Therefore, congratulations go out to Sarah O'Brien and Kristi Rogers.  They are the proud winners of the Found in Fishers contest and will be receiving their t-shirts soon.  No they do not have to share the shirt, we will give them each a shirt of their own.  In addition, we must congratulate all who entered the contest.  For all who entered, you will be receiving a special prize from the Found in Fishers committee.  Now, don't go nagging us about getting these high quality prizes in the next few weeks as the Reichanadters are going to be extremely busy preparing for the holidays and taking some time off.  Any person who complains or nags will not get their prize! No exceptions.  And for those of you who missed out on the Found in Fishers contest, maybe another contest will come your way soon.

So. . . what were the winning entries and what does the card look like?  You will just have to wait and see.  They are leaving the Fishers post office bright and early Tuesday morning.

More details later.

FoundInFishers is found on the web

You read it here first, Bunky. Point that browser to www.FoundInFishers.com and get hooked up and plugged into our weblog and be among the first to experience our new cyberadventure come the New Year. And if you haven't entered our holiday card contest, scroll on down to read all about and then submit your best idea. Entires must be in our hot little hands by Friday, December 16. Then watch your email to see if you're a winner. You're already a winner, of course, because you're reading the Found In Fishers weblog! All for now gang...