Lisa Classic

This past weekend, as part of a side project I have been dabbling on, I had all of my blogs and writings printed up at a commercial printer. All in, I ended up with 300+ double sided pages of writings that have spanned the past 19 years: from a twenty something moving to Switzerland, to finding her partner, starting a family and all of the bumps and jumps along the way. I am only half way through reading about my adventures in Switzerland and it feels like a reintroduction to someone I used to know and be. My desire for experiencing the new was insatiable, I made friends everywhere I went, my social calendar and dance card was always full, I saw endless opportunities for fun and turned every setback into a good story. I hope that one day my kids will read these stories to get a fuller picture of who I was and am. 

It just so happened that this same weekend Martin and I finished watching season two of Four Seasons.  If you haven’t watched it yet, stop reading and go do that now. It is that good. And while the show follows a group of friends in their mid-fifties, two comments from the last two episodes really hit home:

Kate (telling her best friend from college that she will miss him now that he moved away): in every other part of my life, I’m a mother and a wife and a scary boss. But when I am with you, you make me feel like the 19-year-old I was when we met. And I feel so far from her. And you will always have that piece of me. 

Similar to Kate, only two things can bring me back to how things were pre-responsibilities: Hanging out with my college besties and now reading this blog. 

And in the final episode, in a previous scene, Anne mourns her old self who was wild and carefree. In the final scene she tells her friends that is not going home but will instead stay in Italy. 

Kate to Anne: Is this Anne 2.0? 

Anne: No, I think this is… Anne Classic 

I officially want to bring back Lisa Classic, that carefree, responsible-lite, world traveling, socially unstoppable individual that I am meeting again via my older writings. Not sure that is possible right now but at some point in the future I hope she makes a reappearance. 

Side note: at the end of the show I turned to Martin and mentioned how I wanted to bring back Lisa Classic. His only comment: “I am not sure I can handle that”. He is not wrong, at least in certain aspects… Lisa circa 2007 was a hot mess.

Happy Birthday / Anniversary

A birthday is just a day in the calendar. Or so I like to tell myself. Just like Mother’s Day, any expectations higher than that would just lead to some level of disappointment.  Yes, the kids like to show their love first thing in the morning. And yes Martin does his best to make it special. But inevitably the day will continue on like any other: the kids will fight, Martin will get frustrated with them, I will need to be the peacemaker and my hopes and desires for the day get put on the back burner all to avoid yelling and tears. 

I also don’t like to put too much thought or stock into the passing of another year and embarking on the next. Does it mark the start of something new, does it set the tone for the new year, or is it just another day to get through. My birthday this year could mean wildly different things depending on the hour of the day and how you look at it:

Morning: I woke up on a pull out sofa in a cheap hotel in a B Side City. We were in Morgan Hill for a soccer tournament and the only hotel we could find was a Quality Inn. The good news: it was directly across the street from the soccer fields.  The bad news: the only room available was a king bed with a single pull out couch. I took the couch to stop Martin and Oskar arguing about sleeping arrangements the night before. And of course as a result of both the pull out couch (my problem) and Martin sleeping between the two kids in the king (his problem) none of us slept well. 

Should I interpret this as a sign of what to expect of this year? Or am I starting the year off at rock bottom and it will only get better? 

Midday: I had a feeling that Oskar’s team wasn’t going to make the playoffs so with the entire afternoon free and half of the drive already done, I told the family that I wanted to go to Pinnacles National Park after the tournament for a hike. To no one’s surprise or disappointment, the team didn’t make the playoffs, so we grabbed sandwiches in town and then drove the additional 90 minutes south to check out our newest national park. 

Unfortunately for us, the road we were supposed to take to get to the planned hike (Bear Gulch Cave Trail) was closed with an unknown time to reopen. Apparently the parking lots were full and so instead of sending cars endlessly up the one way road to battle it out, they simply closed the road. We pulled into the overflow parking lot near the campground to eat lunch and possibly take a different hike. It was a huge bummer to drive all that way and not be able to see the caves. Once again, it felt like the birthday curse had struck. But did it really? Turns out not at all. The roads re-opened right as we finished lunch. We hopped in the car and were one of the first cars past the gate and, even better, we were able to secure one of the ten parking spots at the trailhead. If we had gotten there any earlier or later it wouldn’t have lined up more perfectly.  

Could I take this to mean that I might have some setbacks this year but they will end up being for the best?!  Or will I just hit a few roadblocks and deal with it? 

The hike was amazing by the way. The kids loved the cave section so much that they opted to do it again on the way back. Martin took one for the parenting team and went with them so I could finish the loop.  

Evening: We got home from the hike early in the evening and we made plans to order Chinese food for my birthday dinner after we all rinsed off. Alva was the first in the shower and I took the opportunity to talk with Cody and Brenda on FaceTime. Cody and Brenda wished me happy birthday while enjoying their Sunday martinis (a birthday celebration I would have loved to join in on) while Alva slowly dissolved into hysterical crying because she got soap in her eyes and I wasn’t there to help. From there, things went downhill fast to the point where I gave up hopes of dinner and I contemplated either leaving the house to get a birthday martini by myself or locking myself in the bedroom for a pity party. I chose the latter. No dinner, no fun, no great end to the day. Just me, hiding in the bedroom while Martin tried to console Alva and feed the kids leftovers.  During my self imposed isolation, I was able to play my NY Times puzzles where the spanogram for Strands was “ Nothing special”. Sounds about right and no ambiguity there. 

My motherly instincts eventually kicked in and I went to the kids to tell them good night and gave Alva a big hug to let her know that while I needed some time for myself I still loved her. While I was disappointed with the evening, I can’t say that I was surprised. 

Here’s to hoping this is not a sign of things to come but rather the bottom of the hill and the only way out is up. 

In the meantime, I am officially changing my “birthday” to the “anniversary of being able to drink”, which I celebrated one week later at Bulls Tavern in San Luis Obispo. Happy 25th Anniversary to me.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

We are officially back to school. Let the craziness and logistics of soccer, gymnastics, music, homework and after school activities begin. 

Three weeks in and we are all adjusting.

Bikes, Hikes and Lake Life

This past week wrapped up our two week trip to Europe. Well technically my two week trip…Martin took the kids over a week before me for some time with his parents in Germany. 

The itinerary: I would fly into Frankfurt, take the train to Munich for one night with the Schroeder's (Oskar’s best friend Henry and his family moved back to Munich about 18 months ago so we were going to see them for the weekend), then on to Sonklarhof for a week with the German family, and then finally the San Francisco Breuers would leave for a four day / three night hut hike in the Dolomites before finishing up the vacation with a few days of relaxation at Lake Garda.  

Below are the stories!

Lake Garda

What was I thinking… I thought to myself as we began our drive south from the Dolomites towards Lake Garda. Why had I insisted that we spend a few days at one of the lakes in Italy?! It was in the wrong direction of our final destination, making the drive back to the airport over nine hours long, the thermometer was increasing higher and higher with each mile driven and there was no reason why we needed to go to Lake Garda at all (there were countless other alpine lakes that were actually on our route back to Germany). The only thing I could think of is that it sounds like a good idea in the middle of a cold spell in February.  

But the Airbnb was booked and non refundable, so we were going. I just hoped my streak of booking bad accommodations wasn’t going to continue with this one. 

Thankfully the apartment was as nice as we had hoped and was even better than I had mentally prepared for:  it had AC, a good layout for our family, a nice pool and was a quick five minute walk to the lake. This we could work with. 

Highlights included, Aperol spritz’s, lots of pizza, pinsa and paninis, paddle boating and swimming in the lake and in the pool

Hut Hike Day 4: From Fonda Savio Homeward Bound

Distance Travelled: 3.8 km
Elevation Gained: 0
Time to Destination: 2.5 hours  

After two days of strenuous hiking (both mentally and physically) we were all excited for an easy walk back down to civilization and the car. The path took us from above the tree line and then back into the forest.  But while easy, it wasn’t without adventures. 

At the beginning of the hike down we could hear a few bells. I thought they were cow bells and tried to play it off like it was no big deal. But then it became a cacophony of bells and echoes and looking up we could see a herd of mountain goats running over a peak in the distance and down across our side of the mountain. Again, I aimed to be nonchalant and ease the kids’ concerns by telling them there was no way the goats were going to come to us… it was too far to cover. And then all of a sudden we were surrounded by goats.  One minute they appeared miles away and the next they were grazing on grass within arms reach.  

After a few minutes of excitement, and after persuading the kids that they in fact shouldn’t try to pet the goats, we continued our journey back down the mountain and into the valley and forest below. 

Overall it was an amazing trip and definitely a core memory for me and hopefully the kids.  But I will say that four days and three nights was the limit for the kids.  The final stretch was a gentle wide slope of green grass before the parking lot and the kids ran down it like they had escaped from captivity.  The joy they let out while running was not dissimilar to the kids from the Sound of Music running after reaching the safety of Switzerland. It could have also been because it was the first place where they could run without risk of falling off of a cliff, but who knows!

Hut Hike Day 3: From Lavaredo to Rifugio Fratelli Fonda Savio

Distance Travelled: 7.61km
Elevation Gained: 536m
Time to Destination: 5.5 hours

After the busy-ness of Locatelli, Lavaredo and Auronzo, we were all looking forward to our final night at the final hut, which was only accessible via a strenuous hike and would hopefully be a bit more mellow once we got there. 

While yesterday was mentally exhausting, this hike was physically tiring.  The first 2 km (between Lavaredo and Auronzo) were relatively flat and they flew by in no time.  And then we had to walk straight down the valley (almost back to where we originally started on the bus) descending over 450m in elevation gain. At the bottom, we cut off onto a side trail and were practically all alone…We passed no more than 20 people over the remaining 3 hour hike.  Which I suppose shouldn’t be surprising, the trail was straight up a gap in the mountains,  and included 536m in total elevation gain.   

Just before the final push (assisted by more cables and metal runs, this time without a harness) my energy was running low so we paused for a snack break. And then Alva and Oskar bounded up the remaining section like two experienced climbers offering me words of encouragement to get me up the final section. They had so much fun, they wanted to do the final section again afterwards. 

Upon arriving at the hut we knew it was going to be our favorite. It was much smaller, completely off the beaten path and the five picnic tables outside were occupied but not at capacity. It was amazing to think that on just the other side of the range there were hundreds of people and here there were less than 40.  

The only downside to the hut were the sleeping arrangements which made me more than a bit nervous and slightly claustrophobic… our beds were in the shared attic with 6 other people, the rafters were so low you had to perpetually duck, the natural light was limited and our feet were tucked so deep into the corners of the roof you couldn’t really lift up a leg when laying down.  

Sleeping accommodations aside, this was still our favorite hut.  The people were nice, the food was delicious, we actually slept just fine in the attic and it provided us with the experience we were looking for.

Hut Hike Day 2: From Locatelli to Lavaredo via Paternkofel

Distance Travelled: Not Sure
Elevation Gained: 340m
Time to Destination: 4 hours

When booking the trip, Martin somehow convinced me that we should do a guided climb one day.  He promised it would be kid friendly and I stupidly figured that meant it wouldn’t be too dangerous or difficult.  I failed to factor in that Europeans are typically a bit more trusting and fearless than Americans when it comes to these sorts of things.  The only kid friendly part was the very beginning and the very end. 

Our hired guide Robert met us at Locatelli at 8am and got us fitted out with helmets, harnesses, ropes and clips.  I was expecting this so I wasn't too alarmed.  The alarm came shortly after a few minutes of walking when Robert pointed out the peak we were going to climb (which was not the one I was expecting and significantly higher and steeper than anticipated). My concerns only grew when we reached the first section that required us to clip in.  It was straight up the side of the mountain.  No steps, no handrail, no foot holds. Just figure it out and go. It was around this time that I started questioning my life choices and realized I should have married a surfer… we could have been vacationing on a beautiful tropical beach with little physical or mental exertion required.   

The climb took us straight up the mountain, then through old WWI tunnels, one that was pitch black and had 200 steps up, followed by more mountain cliffs, steep drop offs and over 340m of elevation gain in not enough distance. We finally reached Forcella del Camoscio where Robert said we could leave our larger bags since the final section was an up and back to the top.  We not only left the bags, we also left me behind.  The final section was an additional hour climb up and back and while I could have done it, I really didn’t want to.  I stayed behind and enjoyed the views of the next valley, enjoyed the sun and enjoyed getting my stress and heart rate back down to a less elevated level. 

In the meantime, Martin, Oskar and Alva were having the best time. They were having Type 1 fun (immediate, pure, and joyful).  This was definitely a Type 2 type of fun for me (I didn't love it in the moment, but looking back, I am thankful and proud that I did it).

After finishing the peak, the group rejoined me and we made our way back down the other side of the mountain via Passportensteig. Which was again, a path cut out of the steep mountain cliffs, up and over a final pass and then back down to the main path.  

While on the second half of the hike we barely passed anyone and it was heavenly.  We had the whole mountain to ourselves and, with the silence and calm that comes with being all alone, was how I envisioned the hikes. 

About 20 minutes from our final stop for the night, we could see the “highway” below us filled with all of the hikers and tourists out for just the day.  We said goodbye to Robert and then found ourselves back among the people.   

Our second hut was a little smaller than the first, but given the proximity to Auronzo including its parking lot and bus stop, the place was incredibly busy with day hikers enjoying the sunshine on the deck and surrounding area. 

Once we checked in, we were able to access the private area and were pleasantly surprised: the rooms were semi-private (we had a five person room that we shared with only one other woman from Italy).  The room was spacious and well lit, the bunk beds were made of sturdy wood and the bathrooms were clean with a hot shower.  

Dinner that night was shared with two men from Germany and their adult sons.  While they were there on a multi-day hiking trip, it didn’t stop them from enjoying a few beers that night and the following morning.  

Fun Fact: I had to research most of these details after the trip since Martin wasn’t sure and there wasn’t a lot online.  It was during this research that I finally learned that via ferrata means iron path in Italian.  Apparently if I had done any planning in advance I would have learned that this meant I was in store for “a protected mountain climbing route that uses fixed steel cables, metal rungs, ladders, and bridges anchored into rock faces.”

Hut Hike Day 1: The Parking Lot to Locatelli

Distance Travelled: 5.17km
Elevation Gained: 250m
Time to Destination: 3 hours

After wrapping up our week at Sonklarhof, we all said goodbye and the four of us made our way to the Dolomites for our four day, three night hut hike.  The first challenge, finding parking for our car for those three nights and the start of the hike.  Thankfully Martin had done some research and found a bus to take us up to the starting point of the hike. Unfortunately, the parking options near the bus stop apparently fill up before 10am on Sundays and we got there at 1pm.  While a little stressful, we had one thing in our favor that gave me confidence that it would all work out: Money.  We had plenty of money to solve the problem, which is true to Breuer form in these situations.

Just a few minutes further down the road was Lake Misurina where we were able to find parking at a hotel for a reasonable price and Martin and I were able to relive a moment from our honeymoon.. Which was an unexpected surprise.  Turns out Misurina is where I thought the church tower in the middle of the lake was (for reference, I was completely wrong, the correct lake is Lake Resia).. So we went out of our way for nothing.  We ended up buying some really nice chamomile hand lotion at the Spar to salvage the drive. 

This time around, we bought sandwiches at the Spar to get us through the first day of hiking before we got to the hut later that afternoon. 

Fully stocked with water, food and excitement, we headed back to the bus stop and waited a few minutes for the bus to take us up to Refugio Auronzo - the starting point of our hike. 

Getting off of the bus was a little disorienting. There were people on the bus heading up just for a few pictures, there were people who were there for just a day hike and then there was us: fully packed and ready for a four day adventure.  One of our fellow bus riders seemed confused and even quipped “do you think you have enough supplies?”  To which we replied “hopefully we have enough for the four days.”  He seemed more than a bit surprised by our response to his snarky remark… he didn’t realize that you could actually spend multiple days out there and had assumed we were just out for a day hike. His snark and surprise quickly turned into awe and possibly a bit of jealousy. 

After getting off the bus and finally navigating our way to the trail Alva noted she was hungry and Oskar said he had to go pee. All of which I replied “Guys, we haven’t even left the parking lot”... Which happened to get a few laughs from some hikers who were taking off their shoes at their car and getting ready to drive back down the mountain.   

And then we were finally off. We went across a mountain, down a steep ravine, up the other side and finally made it to the hut just before the rains started. It was busier and larger than expected and the hut was packed, but we made it through the first day!

We enjoyed dinner that night with two women from Canada and a family from Belgium (who we saw earlier that day on the trail) and the kids got their first hut hike experience with a co-ed room that slept 16 others in metal bunk beds with just enough space to squeeze between to get into bed. 

We were in bed shortly after dinner since we had an early start the next day.  Robert, our guide, was meeting us at 8am to guide us up, through and over Paternkofel.

A New Season at Sonklarhof

I actually have no idea how many times we have been to Sonklarhof.  I am guessing it is nearing double digits for me (and Martin just celebrated 15 times… as recognized by the hotel gifting him a commemorative wooden plaque). But every trip has been in the dead of winter for cross country skiing.  This trip was our first in the middle of summer. It was completely the same hotel (no surprise), with much of the same staff, but a very different experience. 

Instead of skiing the loop on the valley floor each day, we spent our days walking through the valley,  along the hills and up to the infamous chapel (this time we actually made it all the way). In addition to the hikes, Martin rented mountain bikes for him and the kids to explore even further up the valley and mountains. 

At the hotel, we avoided the sauna and indoor pool (too hot) and instead spent time lounging outside around the second pool… we also discovered a third pool on the property along with miniature golf and tennis. All of which are typically closed for the winter. 

We even ventured out of our valley into a neighboring one for a gondola ride and walk up a new mountain. Similar to the Switzerland hikes, this one was geared towards kids and included a map, fun facts and hidden clues that none of the adults could figure out. 

The hotel hosted live music two nights including a one man accordion band who got Martin and the kids involved in his act in the lounge and a 30 piece band complete with trumpets, flutes, drums and violins. Both musical acts included classic German songs such as Sweet Caroline and Country Road.   

Unlike winter, the five course dinners didn’t seem as hard earned but were still equally as delicious. 

In the end, we all agreed that we preferred the hotel in winter but would be happy to go back any time.  Especially if it meant spending the time with the German family.  I think that is what makes the place so special, it is a full week with family in a beautiful setting, relaxed environment, things for everyone to do and no one has to cook or do dishes. 

Instant Community in Munich

After a 12 hour flight and 5 hours navigating the DB train system (train delays and cancellations and all), the last thing I wanted was to be a guest at a friend's house for the night.  I am normally a zombie after so much travel and the idea of having to be a gracious houseguest seemed like a lot.  Turns out, I was completely wrong.  The quick visit was amazing and a good reminder as to why I love our school and our overall community. 

Martin picked me up at the closest train station in the suburbs of Munich and we made it back to the Schroeder's house just before 7pm.  After hugs all around, and introductions to their newest baby Carla, I hopped in the shower and emerged feeling like a new person…I was ready to hit up the local beer garden for dinner.  

We rolled into the beer garden like we owned the place: 4 Breuers, 6 Schroeders and the family of Nico and Lena (who also happened to be in Munich for the night) rounded out our group to 15. And while it was fully packed with the Saturday night crowd, we managed to find two tables and made ourselves at home.  It truly felt like we picked up our expat life in San Francisco and moved it to Munich…well, expats for everyone else in San Francisco and then me becoming the expat once again in Munich.   

And even better, while I typically become more quiet around the German community (I feel incredibly guilty making people speak English and always feel like an ugly American who can’t speak multiple languages), I had a bit more confidence with the group… especially while talking about how great the German community is in San Francisco and how special the overall city can be. 

We left Sunday morning for the drive to Sonklarhof, but I have started envisioning the life of an expat again…

Best Summer Camp Ever

This year we only needed three weeks of summer camps to get us through the break (as compared to the seven last year). The kids once again had a week at Harry Potter Camp and they both attended Mt Tam Mountain Bike Camp to prepare them for the planned European adventures later in the summer. But the best summer camp they attended, and the one they still talk about, was “summer camp” at Pillsbury with Grandma and Grandpa.  It had everything they could hope for: a week at the Lake with freedom to roam, play in the dirt, exert some independence and gain some confidence.

There was jewelry making with Auntie Dana

Crocheting with Grandma

Kayaking and SUP

Kneeboarding with Grandpa and Biking and "lifeguarding" 

And, of course, popsies 

After five nights of pure freedom and summer joy, I showed up to round out the week. It truly was a special week for them… and for me as well since they got to experience a little bit of my own childhood in the process. Thank you mom and dad for giving them this experience. The kids had a blast and hopefully they will be invited back next summer for another week of fun at the Lake.

Granny Turns 100 and Other Fun Events

It is not everyday that a loved one turns 100. Granny Fran celebrated her 100th birthday this past weekend with family and friends at her church with a birthday lunch and cake after the Sunday service.  The highlight, other than seeing extended family and watching the cousins play, was experiencing Granny’s unfiltered mind at work which has always been a little blunt (“you must have been a fat baby” is one of my favorite Granny quotes) and has only gotten more amazing with age, although I suppose she has earned it.  During the church service the pastor asked all fathers to stand up to honor them on Fathers Day.  My Uncle David was sitting next to Granny and he stood up as requested.  Granny immediately quipped “Why are you standing up?  Are you celebrating a big birthday?”

In addition to 100 years, Martin and I also celebrated our anniversary early at Foreign Cinema, another Germany win at a watch party on Saturday, and Father’s Day on Sunday. And because, the end of the school year is always hectic, we had dim sum with my parents on Juneteenth, and Oskar graduated fourth grade (the end of elementary school in Germany)