iteach is the writer
of our daily blog today!
such a sweet person she is!
Enjoy!
Vacations!
by iteach
Oh, my heart just melts every time I think of the word "vacation". My shoulders start to sag and I get this dreamy look in my eyes. Then I start to think about the hotel and I have a smile from ear to ear. I love how the maid folds the toilet paper into a triangle and the little salt & pepper shakers that come with my room service tray. Oh, I so want to share my favorite vacation with you and I would also like to hear about yours.
I have been blessed with so many memories of some great vacations that I don't know where to start.
Should I talk about my childhood trips with my family?
Or maybe the vacation to Europe with the French Club in high school ?
Maybe all my adventures when I was "single girl"?
How about my trips with my husband or children?
Too hard to decide, but I decided on my "single girl" adventures. At the age of 25 I was involved with the most amazing handsome man. We talked about marriage and children nonstop. However it ended tragically and heartbreaking. It was a violent death that maybe I will share on another blog entry. Then a year after his death are school district went on strike for 22 school days! That was the last straw. My teaching job was the only thing that kept me moving every day. Even after the strike ended my spirits were broke. After a couple months of more sadness, I started to get angry. I thought enough is enough. I am not going to sit here and wait for Prince Charming to come knocking at my door. I am also not going to have my job of teaching be my only passion in life. So out of the blue I decided to take a vacation on my own and that idea made my heart beat an extra beat.
I went to our local travel agent after school one day for help. I explained to her that I wanted to go somewhere on my own. I wanted to go to a place where I have never been before, so I rattled off to her the few places I have been with my family. Then I told her that I was a teacher with a small budget. So she thought about it for a few moments and said "Atlanta, Georgia". She said Delta has a hub there and it would only be $139 round trip. I had no idea what a "hub" was, but $139 sounded great to me. I had never been to Georgia and boy was I excited.
At that time I didn't have a computer, so I went to our little local library to do research. I went on the computer their and found Atlanta's tourist web page. I was so excited to find out that there was so much to do in Atlanta. I immediately started to write down a few places I would like to visit. Now I won't bore you with all the places I visited in Atlanta, because that is not what made this trip special. This trip was special, because on how it made me feel.
Boy, did I feel like Mary Tyler Moore. I was dying to throw my hat off in the middle of the street. I felt like I could do anything and that I could make my own happiness. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. That trip was a turning point in my life. I fell in love with myself and I learned that I can stand on my own two feet.
631 comments:
1 – 200 of 631 Newer› Newest»iteach, Love your blog..
Bravo to you..One of these days I would love to take a vacation by myself and see what I'm like..
I'm all alone?!
Hi Birdee, congrats on #1
Enjoyed your blog iteach, sorry for your heartache.
Sounds like this was more than a vacation to you- it was a life changing experience.
My favorite was a trip to the Bahamas with our kids about 12 years ago. All inclusive, (back in the day when that meant premium liquor, room service and you could eat anywhere at anytime at all the resturaunts). Hotel had upgraded us to an oceanview Suite. Gambling, snorkeling and perfect weather for 7 days. We had a 4 day trip and on day 3 we said "no way are we going home tomorrow" so we called the travel agent and arranged to stay longer. That was a vacation that was as perfect as perfect could get. Especially for my 16 yr old son when he discovered that women went topless on the beach :)
Good Morning Owls!
Birdee: Congrats on 1st! LOL at wanting to take a trip by yourself to see what you're like. :)
Goldie: The Bahamas is somewhere I would love to go! Glad you and your family had such a wonderful time there!
Iteach: I'm sorry to hear about the tragic loss of the man you loved. How sad! I'm glad the trip to Atlanta was exactly what you needed to begin the healing process and renew your faith in your inner strength.
My favorite vacation happened about a year ago when I took a cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. I love the ocean! It's magical and mysterious so spending 5 days surrounded by it was heaven for me. :) I also love dolphins so the highlight of the trip was getting to swim with them. When the cruise was over, I kept wishing there was somewhere I could hide on the ship so they wouldn't find me and make me leave. I wanted to stay there forever! :) It was an amazing trip!
Looking forward to reading the fun adventures others have had!
Wishing everyone a wonderful Wednesday!
Good Morning Birdee and Goldie!
Iteach: Fantastic story! I agree with Goldie that was a life changing moment for you. I am amazed at your strength and how you decided to live your life!
My Favorite vacation was about 6 or 7 year ago. I went on a road trip with two of my real Mothers sisters and a cousin about my age and her 18 year old daughter.
I was looking for family connections a chance to learn more about her side of the family.
We spent 8 days driving from WA state to Sacramento for a family wedding. We had no reservations anywhere and our only plan was to make it to the wedding on time.
We stayed in dives and nice hotels. We split the room costs and gas and we had a ball! We laughed like teenagers and my cousin and I watched the two sisters have a couple of fights. LOL We made it to the wedding and visited my grandparents old house and even went to the cemetary where they are buried. I learned alot and realized that I needed to learn more.
On the way back we stopped at any tourist trap we wanted and junk food like there was no tomorrow!
My favorite part was San Francisco. We spent a day and a night there. Wandered the streets of China town and had to give one aunt a tutorial about some giant muchrooms in a display window. (hint they were not giant mushrooms. Use your imagination)She turned six shades of red when the light bulb went on and we were all laughing hysterically around her. Enough to get other people to stop and see what we were up to.
That is just part of the trip. But really it was a life changer for me too. I learned that I was so lucky to have these women in my life and it was time to really know them.
You know I think it may be time for another road trip!
Yay Birdee #1!!!
Happy Wednesday!!!
Good Morning, Birdee, Goldie, Amicus, Lynn D, CPGem, and Iteach and all those to come after me!!
Birdee - congrats on being FIRST!!
Hy - welcome - it's good to see you!!
Vacations - TOO funny - IBB and i were just talking about our childhood trips the other day!!
I grew up in a military family - my father would save ALL of his "leave" for the summer and we'd load up the car and take off from where ever we lived and went to Virginia to spend the summer on the farm - then a week in PA at his mom's farm - and back to VA and then home ....... traveling across country - you would think that we have "seen it all" - well, NO - we stopped for gas and you had better have to use the bathroom THEN - no extra stops.. we'd stay at a hotel with a pool to "tire the kids out" and we'd be on the road the next day.....
My father instilled such work ethic into me, that I never really learned how to "have fun" - (sadly) and all vacation time was almost mandatory to spend with family....... so - I would always fly to see family!!!!! AND, no site seeing.....
AND, with the family being SO sports oriented - trips then took a turn to travel for weekend football games while my little brother was playing college ball- and if you weren't AT a game, you were watching sports on TV.....
I do have THREE memoriable trips.
and I'll put them in my next post, as this one might be getting a little long!! LOL...
I hope everyone has an excellent day!!! :-)
Okay -
First FUN trip - little bro graduated from high school - my mom actually said "We've never done anything JUST for FUN, let's go to Washington DC - (we still had to go to the farm after that, BUT) - we stayed in DownTown DC, took a bus tour that took us to EVERY site seeing place - We got a tour of the White House (Clinton jogged past our bus while the driver was getting our tickets - amazing how many people it takes for ONE man to go for a jog) - Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Arlington Cemetary - Smithsonim - the Capitol building - I'm sure I am missing some, but it was REALLY exciting - to think that every summer of my life - I had been only an hour away from our Nations History - mind boggling!!
SECOND - San Diego - Mr. MEK and I went there on our honeymoon - I had ALWAYS wanted to go to Sea World and pet a dolphin - I got SO close - the dolphin was THIS close to me and a little girl next to me had a handful of fish - well, just as the dolphin was in reach - a SEAGULL swooped down to steal the fish out of the little girls hand - I screamed like there was no tomorrow - I felt like I was in the movie BIRDS - oh good grief!! Talk about trama........ what nasty birds!!!!! anyway - no petting the dolphin for me!! AND, we went to Disneyland, cuz I always wanted my picture taken with Goofey!! It's the little things in life, RIGHT??!!
THIRD trip - San Jose - for a BBQ - I know I keep talking about this - BUT - I had NEVER in my 50 years traveled ALONE to a place where I knew noone or nothing!! I took the leap and it couldn't have turned out better......My one wish while there, was to take the harbor boat tour under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz......... It was THEE most amazing thing - the fog lifted just as we were getting to the bridge - I got some awesome pictures!!!!!! Whabby - thank you for indulging me!!
and - thank you all for "listening" to this ramble!!
Morning, all! I've been having computer trouble. I composed a vacation story, tried to upload it, and failed. No time to retype now, so I'll have to do it tonight.
MEK: Thanks!
iteach: But did you get laid? LOL!
Lynn D - I can't believe you didn't go to the Lonestar when you were in San Fran!! :-)
Good Morning all you early Birds! and congrats to birdee for being the earliest of them all, #1!
First off, this may be a long post. Sorry, since it is so early in the posts. Please forgive me.
Thank you all so very much for all your love, support, prayers, positive thoughts and just plain friendship these past few weeks. It looks like I am going to have to be relying on you some more for the next few months!!
Yesterday, my daughter Aimee and I took Laurie down to SF for her visit with the pediatric cardio specialist. He, (Dr Harold Tarnoff) is one of the best in his field, works both with Kaiser and UCSF. His specialty is pediatric cardiology, and adults with childhood onset of congenital heart defects, which Laurie has.
Although she had a complete repair of her heart defect (tetrology of fallot, one of the most complicated of heart defects, as it entails 4 different defects) when she was very young, as she became an adult, the way it was explained to me, "the parts just wore out, things break down after time."
She has a complete AV heart block, her pulmonary arteries are needing repair, actually replacement, and her right and left ventricles are beating seperately, instead of in conjunction with each other. That is why she is so tired and out of breath so much. Her little heart is just working so hard, and her body is not what it should be.
She is, in Dr Tarnoff's words, "obese". Now Laurie only weighs 153 lbs. But, she is also only 4 ft 7 in! But, Dr Tarnoff, believes it will be almost impossible to get her to lose weight, due to the fact that her heart is working so hard to just keep her alive, and plus the fact, that exercise is just too tiring for her.
Needles to say, I am at a loss right now as to what to do. I mean, I KNOW what I have to do, but I am just in shock as to how bad her heart has deteriorated. I had no idea it had gotten so bad.
So, for right now, we are monitoring her food intake, low sodium, portion control, more and more healthy alternatives, and so far she is NOT compaining! She hasn't asked for any junk food at all! In fact she actually asks for apples as a snack, instead of her usual microwave popcorn! Amazing.
She will be undergoing several tests within the next few weeks here in Santa Rosa, before we meet with the actual Cardiac Surgical team at UCSF, to discuss the surgery she will be having.
She will have two 24 hour studies. One study is completed at home, she will be hooked up to an EKG machine at the local Kaiser hospital, sent home and monitored. The other 24 study will be an Echo-cardiogram done at the hospital. The most complicated one, though, will be a Nuclear Cat Scan, under sedation to see exactly how the blood is being pumped throughout her heart. I am actually excited about this one. It's a fairly new (at least to me) procedure that is the most accurate to really know for sure how to go about repairing her heart.
So, that is it in a very large nutshell!
I was very upset yesterday. I cried and cried, not only for Laurie but also for myself. And as I write this, I feel the tears coming again. This will be a very risky surgery, due to her weight, and the Dr was very upfront about her chances of survival.
Mind you, Laurie is my youngest, has always been living with me, and now since my other daughters are married with children of their own, and my husband being killed in 1984, it is just me and my Laurie at home now.
To say she is my life, is putting it mildly. And the thought of not having her with me, is just to horrible to imagine. I am not a defeatest, and I am not imagining the worst, beleive me. But, I must also be realistic. I have all the confidence in the world in this Cardiologist, and when I do meet with the Surgical Team I am sure I will also have utmost confidence in them!
Thank you all for bearing up with this very long post, but I just needed to write it all down. Not just for you here on the blog, but for myself also. It actually felt good to put it all down in writing! I will probably copy and paste this for my own perusal later!
Now as for the topic of Vacations, well, all of my vacations have been with Miss Laurie for the most part, and they have been a hoot! (pardon the pun!) We have gone on about 6 cruises, from Mexico to the Caribbean, and I do believe our favorite was the 12 day Alaska cruise in 2005. If any of you get the chance to go to Alaska, go!! In fact that is one place I would go back to in a heartbeat! (another pun)
It is just majestic. The cruise itself was fantastic, we went on Celebrity, and that's just how we were treated, like celebrities! Laurie was in her wheelchair and everyone catered to her every whim! Our head waiter in the dining room took a special liking to Laurie and even on her down time came and got us for some special "behind the scenes" action aboard ship! She treated her to a special "spa" day, and treated her like a princess. Her name was Carla, from Portugal, and I will remember her forever.
The glaciers were magnificent, we saw such wildlife, you can't imagine. Whales, otters, Eagles, even a bear or two (from far away!) Looking back, I can see Laurie wasn't doing too well even than, but I just didn't pay a lot of attention. I just thought she was enjoying being "pushed" around in her chair. We didn't go on many excursions, just a beautiful trainride up the mountain outside of Skagway. That was most enjoyable.
When Laurie gets well, we will definitely go back to Alaska, and this time around, we will do many more excursions. She wants to go on a dog sled ride! We will!!!
Thanks for everything my wonderful friends. This harks back to yesterday's topic of friendship. I have met the most wonderful women ( and a couple very specail men) I have ever known on this blog and of course it all began on the Ross Blog. I will forever be thankful to RM for bringing us all together, and to Carol who has so graciously and generously made this Night Owl spot a place of comfort, support, humor and fun for all of us.
Yes, I do believe you can have many REAL cyber-friends. I have many. I email some, I talk to some on the phone. I have yet to meet up with anyone yet, but that is also on my "to-do" list with Laurie.
I told you this would be long!!! Maybe we could consider this post to be my contribution to the Daily Blog! Ha Ha!
Love, DonnaJean
Whabby - LOL - only YOU would think that!!! :-) (and YW)
Iteach - do tell, now that he brought it up!!
Donna Jean - God Bless you!!
Whabby and MEK~
On that particular trip it didn't happen.
However, the following year "Single girl" when to Boston by herself and....
well,........
I can't say anymore or I would make Whabby blush.
Iteach - too funny!!! You go girl!!
This post is for DonnaJean and Laurie.
DonnaJean I wish I could be there to hold your hand. I will be saying daily prayers for Miss Laurie. I am so hopeful that all will go well and she will be safe!
DonnaJean tell her I am so proud of her sticking to her diet!!! She is Amazing!
MEK: Did your Dad know my Dad??
It is a family joke that my Dad would not stop for anything!!! You went before you left end of story! We had to threaten to pee in the back seat to get him to stop.
Of course this was in the days when everyone smoked too. He would have his window cracked and the heat on high and smoked like a bar-b-que!!! I am amazed we made it out alive and with our bladders intact. Hey maybe that is why I need depends and NASA diapers now!
Ohhhhhhhh I would love to hear about Boston Iteach!
MEK: Wish I had known about the Lonestar! It would probably have sent my one Aunt running for the hills! LOL
Amicus and Goldie: I love the beach. My dream is to have a retirement home on the beach somewhere, even if it is here in Washington!
BIRDEEEEEE, you flew in first!! YAY! Congrats! Flapping my wings for you!
DONNA JEAN, My continued thoughts and prayers go out for you and precious Miss Laurie Elizabeth.
ITEACH - What a fun topic. The other night I was feeling nostalgic and was looking at old pics and I found some of some great vacations I took over the years.
I found pics of the impromptu vacation a friend and I took to the Bahamas.
And the one I took to Virgina Beach with 2 other friends. (I needed the pics, cause a lot of the memories were hazy due to the rum!! Ya know, 3 young women and naval air station and the beach...! LOL)
Then there were the pics of my first solo vacation to Hawaii. I surprised myself by going that far alone, but it was awesome. I did what I wanted, when I wanted. Or I just lazily floated on a raft in the ocean for hours. It was a gorgeous backdrop to a great time.
But my best vacation was to Italy. We saw incredible sights, ate incredible food, met incredible people. But I would have to say the best part was meeting some family members of my friend that I went with. They are farmers and shepards that live in a small village. We became famous as the "Americana's"!! I learned that even though I speak no Italian they speak no English, we were able to communicate and bond. We still email back and forth thanks to google language tools that does the translations for us. It was my most memorable trip ever, and I long for the day to return and retire in Venice!!
It is so true that before you can expect someone else to love you, you have to learn to love yourself. Your blog is so inspirational today! Thanks!
Sorry for the long post.
HI to GOLDIE, LYNN D, MEK, AMICUS and WHABBY!
Lunch is leftovers! Sorry!
Oh, I wish I knew you when I was "single girl" we could had a lot of fun together traveling the world together.
G'morning to all doves & owls...hope you have some WOW in your Wednesday! I'm totally into Mardi Gras mindset today, so sent my 'OwlHug' avatar pals off for a little nap. They'll be back.
ITEACH ~ Loved your vacation story and can't wait to live vicariously through those I'm sure will follow. I'll have to ponder over which is my own favorite for a while.....maybe by lunchtime?
For now, DONNA JEAN, more prayers and well-wishes for you and Laurie Elizabeth than you can imagine.
Sorry to have totally missed yesterday's potluck and Friendship TOTD. In reading all of your posts, I realized how we are ALL so much more alike than different. Many of your words could well have been mine....reuniting with grade school chums after 40 years apart, yet feeling as if you had been together yesterday; the special bond with the across-the-street neighbor while raising families together; surprising ourselves in discovering that you really CAN & DO love your new cyber-friends. I realized as I responded last night to an Owl-Buddy who was questioning my absence from the nest that I don't have REAL friends and CYBER friends (implying lesser importance)........instead I have ONSITE friends and OFFSITE friends, and my life is so very enriched by both. Thank you!!
Good to say "Hi to Hy!!" GroupGrope Welcome :o)) ....and Birdee...Boy, did you complete yesterday's topic on a powerful note. What a warm and touching post.
Now...back to vicarious vacations!
Iteach: What a great topic. I am so sorry for your tragic loss. Grieving is such an individual thing and you found the strength to be able to move on with your life a way that should make you proud. And in the process you learned more about you. I applaud you for taking that step.
Good morning Birdee (congrats on #1) Amicus, Goldie, Lynn D, MEK, Bear, and DonnaJean. I hope you all are having a great start to your day. And "hello" to all that post after me.
I was born in New York and my family moved to California when I was four. We never took vacations when I was growing up, but we did drive back to New York on three different occasions. These trips were not considered our vacation until we actually got to New York. My Father's goal was to get there ASAP and he would not have made ANY stops on the way if he didn't have to sleep. My mother didn't drive so he HAD to sleep. And, like MEK, when we stopped for gas, we better go to the bathroom or wait until we needed gas again.
So, when I got married at 18, my husband and I decided to go to San Francisco for our Horneymoon. (yes I spelled that right). So we left Santa Maria after the reception and I thought we would go straight to SF. My husband made all the arrangements for the trip, and we hadn't been driving for too long when we came to a sign for the Hearst Castle turn off. He said "Let's go there and tour the Castle." HUH?? "Aren't we going to SF?" "Yes, but there is a lot to see on the way." "I didn't know we could stop on the way." We almost had an accident because he was laughing so hard. I knew then that this was going to be a great ride, not just this trip, but our lives together.
We had many fun vacations after that, alone and with kids, but that will always be the most memorable one for me.
Thanks, Iteach, for bringing up this wonderful memory for me again.
Lynn D - YES, my dad smoked also - I remember on one drive - he threw his butt out the window and it came right back in the back seat and burned my skin - OUCH!!
MO - Hawaii all by yourself - WOW.. now that took balls...
I am ALWAYS wanted to go to Ireland - I have never been overseas - my dad always has remote tours, so he went and we stayed - anyway - two of the nurses from the surgery center and myself had purchased our trip and were SO excited to go - it was to be March 2002 - WELL - our trip was canceled after 9-11 and that was it...... SO - Ireland will have to wait - but it's still my biggest dream...
AND - I plan on making this San Diego trip a good one - while Mr. MEK is in his conference - I plan to explore the harbour, get some spa treatments and enjoy the rest!! AND, we will be going to Torrey Pines - I guess you just can't stop the sports addict in me!!! :-)
Hy: Good to see you in the nest. Come back often.
DonnaJean: You and Laurie have been in my prayers and I will continue to pray that all goes well for Laurie and you, too. Bless you both.
I had enough typos and bad grammar in that last post - think I better go run my errands!! :-)
MO- there are plenty of leftovers from the potluck!! :-)
ooh, SacBarb, that was GOOD! See, this is gonna be a fun topic.
Just in case there are still one or two people on the planet who have not yet read the book 'eat, pray,love', RUN-don't-walk to your nearest bookstore. If you enjoy today's topic, you'll love it!
Bon'O: Thanks and good morning to you. You flew in while I was typing. Love your Mardi Gras avitar. So festive.
Stopping in before I mop the next floor.
Waving a wing at everyone!
Bono: Good to see you! I just bought Eat Pray Love! I am starting it Tomorrow!
Ok back to the mop water.
Good morning/afternoon dear hooters!
Donna Jean, just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and Miss Laurie Elizabeth. I hope to meet you both at the BABB!
Birdee, congrats on being first!
My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved a lot when I was young. I was born in NY and we criss-crossed the country many times and ended up in the SF bay area.
I am fortunate to say I've been to each of the 50 states! Some of the most memorable places I can remember are Mt. Rushmore, Grand Canyon, and seeing the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone Park.
I remember an early history lesson from my dad, as we stood at Little Bighorn in Montana, a place known as Custer's Last Stand.
When I was 18, my dad took me and my 2 brothers to Alaska to go salmon fishing. What a beautiful place! We stayed in a remote lodge, in a shack with bear claw marks down the screen. It was accessible only by boat.
Alaska has probably the most beautiful scenery I've ever been lucky to see. Hawaii would be a very close second.
I mentioned in yesterday's blog that my best friend and I had rented a car in Europe and driven through Germany, Italy and Switzerland by ourselves. We had a blast shopping in Florence (no we didn't go to any museums while there, we were on a shopping mission). We took the obligatory picture of each other posing at the Tower of Pisa (where you aim just right with the camera and it looks like you're holding the tower up).
We stayed one night in a little B&B in the Swiss Alps, staying up into the wee hours drinking the very potent regional wine with some of the locals (a dairy farmer and ski instructor amongst the group)
We had so much fun, never thought about 2 women alone in a foreign country. Later we would be amazed that we did what we did!
I guess when it comes down to it, I can't think of a favorite vacation, everywhere I've been has a special memory.
Have a fabulous day!
quick...somebody? anybody? Bueller? it's snowing again. Tell me another tropical vacation story NOW!
Hiya Owls!!
WTG, Congrats Birdee!!!
Birdee and Tina fantastic posts in Friendship blog.
Iteach, thanks for a great blog today.
Vacations were not a big thing in my life as a kid or adult.
I haven't had my honeymoon yet..lol..20 yrs later.
We had a cottage up north so our holidays were spent there enjoying the beach on Lake Huron.
Matter of fact, my trip to meet my online friends was the first trip anywhere by myself.
It was a big year of first for me.
It was just after 9-11 and I was terrified of everything.
I was not a confident driver, and I lack direction skills..and so much more...lol. but I was determined that I was going to do this..and I did.
I got on the plane and flew to Colorado.
I had so much fun, I had to go back, so when I returned home from that weekend I got in my car and drove there.
My hubby was a great support. He mapped out the drive for me, and I was lucky to have CAA so I they hooked me up with good places to stay on my way there.
It was the time of my life.
Buzzin down the highway with my tunes cranked.
I was terrified, but I think that was part of the incredible rush I was feeling.
I was so proud of myself.
I had so much fun in Colorado.
I have a fear of heights, but I walked on the world's highest suspension bridge,I played the slots ontop a mountain in a snow storm, I had a buffalo burger in SOUTH PARK..lol..while looking for Cartman... and it was the most gorgeous landscape I had ever laid my eyes on.
That is a trip that will in my heart & soul forever.
Thank you Iteach and Mo for the last 2 day blogs.
You have brought sunshine back to me by kick starting my walk down memory lane.
Sorry this was a long post.
Hugs Owls ♥xox♥
BON'O,
It is bitter cold here, too. So a warm weather vacay is good to reminisce about!
It's not really tropical, but here goes...
A couple of years ago, my friend was turning 50 and his wife told me she was taking him and the kids to Sacramento to visit his brother. I decided to fly in and surprise him.
His brother picked me up at the airport and when we got to the house Ron went in and I sat in the car a while. After about 15 minutes I rang the bell and Ron made sure Chuck (the birthday boy) opened the door. The look on his face was worth the airplane ticket price! We sxplored old town Sacramento, went to S.F for the day and did the Alcatraz thing and wandered the streets of S.F. Ihad been to S.F before, but never to Alcatraz. One of the best things we did in Sac. was get our pictures taken as a group in old west clothes. It was a riot and that picture is proudly displayed on my wall in my entry way. And just celebrating together was the best.
Oh, and it was prolly 110 degrees in Sac that weekend!
Hey Mo,
I have lived in the bay area most of my life, but I still have not been to Alcatraz!
We went one time to take the tour, but it was summer and the tour was sold out way in advance. Didn't even think about trying to book it ahead of time!
Never tried to go back, but maybe someday!
Aloha Kakahiaka blog buds! wow it's been a long time since I said that....
DonnaJean: You and Laurie are, always have, and will continue to be in my thoughts. Tell Laurie that when you finally get to my little corner of the world I will take her boogie boarding in the warm blue waters of Hawaii.
I think my favorite vacation was not to a tropical setting, but was my first trip to England. Such history in every inch of that island! To sit in a pub at the beginning of the Thames where people have sat for hundreds of years just numbed my brain.
I live in one of the most tropical settings you can imagine, and one of the things I love most about this island in the middle of the blue sea is showing visitors the things a tourist wouldn't normally see. People are so excited to be here they sometimes don't see the real beauty of these islands. Being able to stop on the side of the road and pick a banana for a snack, or maybe a plate of garlic shrimp at a hole in the wall stand on the North Shore, or a hike to the Pill Boxes (the concrete bunkers where soldiers used to be lookouts) in Lanikai, or hiking into a valley to see and stand under a majestic waterfall, or to sit on a prestine beach and glance out over the ocean and see a dolphin riding a wave or a Turtle (lol) pop it's head out and say aloha.
I hope that in the future some of you dear people get a chance to visit these islands and when you do please let me know so that I might get the chance to meet you and throw a lei around your neck!
Yes Whabby you will get leid when you visit me!!!!!
Have a great day everyone.
I am so not supposed to be on this website while at work, but hey I guess I was supposed to be today.
Hugs and aloha, Turtle~
Turtle!!! Oh my stars,your post was beautiful!
You just told me where I am going for my long over due honeymoon..LOL
DonnaJean, I am praying for you and Laurie Elizabeth that everything turns out just fine and that you have a great time on that dog sled ride!
East Bay J, I have to agree with you that I don't think I could choose a favorite vacation--they all were so wonderful and bring such special memories.
From my childhood days of family drives from MD to Miami to visit my grandfather's motel (where my Mom would hear my sister and I saying, "her hair is touching my side of the back seat!" to England (where my parents lived for several years) to Hawaii to Korea, it's all been great. I think I just love the feeling of "being on vacation!"
I have to say that one of the most beautiful places I've been was Victoria, in our Tinka's neck of the woods. I'd love to go back one day!
Thanks, iteach, for the fun topic! I, too, lost a very special boyfriend in a car accident when I was 22. It was one of the hardest times in my life--I applaud you for taking that self-searching vacation alone!
Sandie, I agree the Island is beautiful.
I love China town in Victoria.
Campbell River and Courtney are also pretty places on the Island.
Donna Jean - I read your post about an hour ago and everything else seemed so unimportant I just couldn't post my daily comment. My prayers are with you and little Laurie. I will keep a special candle lit at church until I hear she is on the mend. I know just which candle it was be. I will have the priest say a Mass for her.
Iteach - Our stories have a slightly similar thread running through them. Only I was left by divorce not death. For a year I hardly left the house. I had never traveled anywhere except to Disneyland with my family. After a year I decided I was going to have an adventure. I saw an ad in the paper saying the B.C. Choral Association was going to sing on an Alaskan cruise. Having run the school choirs I thought I would try out. Soon I was booked to go on that cruise with the B.C. choral group. After I signed, I was terrified. I knew no-one. I didn't want to share a cabin so I paid double price to have one of my own. My daughter took me to Ferry terminal. I was crying and didn't want to go. She reassured me that I was fine and the next thing I knew I was on the Westerdaam heading for Alaska. My life changed at that moment. I found there was a whole world out there that I did not know about. I don't think I ever had as much fun before or since. I felt like the butterfly that had come out of her cocoon. Seven days later I landed home a different person. My daughter was surprised to find me so excited. That started my traveling phase. In the next 8 years I made 14 trips to many countries, the second one included meeting my special friend Ron. We then traveled together. If it were not for his death in 2002, I could still be traveling. As it is I have passed through my wandering stage and I am content to be at home with my two little 'fur-babies'. I no longer feel the urge when I see the big Cruise ships lined up at the harbour. There really is "no place like home".
me too, lovey!
Tinka, that's such a sweet story--you were brave!
Thanks, guys! That was so responsive it even stopped the snow!
MO: My ex was from the Bakersfield area originally. It does get toasty in inland Cali, for sure.
EBJ: Some of my most romantic vacation memories are sited in the greater San Fran area....most romantic dinner was at Ondine in Sausalito; most romantic corporate travels (yes, business & pleasure definitely DO mix!) involved stays on Union Square & happy hours in The Embarcadero. Came very close to marrying a guy from Walnut Creek. (That's definitely a 'shoulda' story for another time. Love the rolling hills of East Bay and beyond.
and, K'girl, one can never say too many good things about Hawaii. Had an opportunity to transfer to Bishop Trust midway through my banking career. VERY tempting, but I feared getting island-fever and having to move myself back to the mainland. Aloha & mahalo!
Good afternoon ladies. Hi kgirl, nice to see you- and you to HY.
Donna Jean, you and Laurie will continue to be in my thoughts. I don't pretend to understand the real pain this is causing you- but I (and all of us) am here for you. Just to talk or maybe to sit in silence, we will help you along down the road. Post as often and as long as you wish. Especially if putting it down in the written word is catharic for you.
So did ALL our fathers smoke and make us hold our bladders for hours on end? There must have been some sort of club they joined back then and those were the rules!
Bon O: Aole pilikia wahine! 8-)
You shoulda tried it, I thought the same thing, but that was 15 years ago, and now I can't even think of somewhere else being "home".
Sandie, Lovey, Tinka...you were hiding behind the sofa while I was jabbering. Good day to you.
If anyone's hungry, I made hickory-barbecue chicken pitas and fresh melon-ball salad. Help yourself!
Mmmmm Bon sounds srumpdillicious ty.
I am lovin reading everyone's adventures!
BTW, does anyone have Donna Jeans email addy, that we could maybe send messages to her???
Hey Bon, thanks for the lunch. It is just now noon here and I'm hungry.
KGirl- I am going to be on the Big Island March 28-April4. We are trying to book another week, either before or after the Big Island, on one of the other Islands. Are you on Oahu?
MEK--LMAO@ the birds..
tweet tweet....haha..and now you're an OWL
Lovey: You have mail on MySpace
Gosh you guys it is so nice to take a break from the floors and visit all of these places! It is cold here too and I am sitting here day dreaming of fun things I should do! Thank you!
The furthest I have been out of the US is Victoria and I loved it too. It was beautiful and I was struck by how clean everything was. Greatly enjoyed that trip. I need to do that again here soon!
I wish I had the confidence that so many of you have about traveling alone! I am very directionally challenged and I have just about given up freeway driving! But you are all making me rethink that!
Hi Kgirl thank you for taking me to Hawaii today!
Goldie: Geez I think your right it must have been a damn club!!! As an adult looking back what gets me is that Dad always bought us a bottle of pop and some candy before we started the trip. Where in the hell did he think we were going to pee??? LMAO
lovey ~~ you've got mail :o)
Thanks Barb!! xox
LOl Thanks Bon. I'm so wrapped up in reading all the stories here I'm slackin off in my mail.
Good afternoon, Bon'o!
Good morning and Happy Wednesday to all you Owls, Owlettes, and our resident Bear!
I wrote a comment yesterday and somehow never posted it ... GACK! Am I getting looney in my old age?
I've been reading this blog when I can but the reception desk where I'm working right now has been very busy the last few days. I'm halfway through week 3 and have one more week to go. I'm surprised that I'm surviving the full-time schedule. It means going to bed by 9pm to keep my energy up so I'm WAY behind on all my favorite shows. I'm thankful for Tivo at the moment. It's also good that the writer's strike means many are either not being shown or are in reruns and there's no chance I'll have time to become addicted to any new shows any time soon.
Before I forget, I want to thank everyone who has been leaving comments on myspace. I really enjoy them and wish I found the time to comment back. Maybe this hectic pace I've been keeping will slow down after Valentine's Day.
I have Big News!! Some of you know that hubby and I recently attended a United Animal Nations (UAN) workshop in Sacramento and joined the Animal Response Services (EARS) team. I just received my first assigment and I'm very excited about it!
A call went out for volunteers to travel to Reno to help socialize some extremely timid dogs that were rescued from a ranch in the desert. There were initially almost 150 dogs stranded; most have been transferred to shelters in Nevada and Northern California. The remaining 27 were moved to a temporary shelter in Reno where EARS volunteers have been caring for them.
Currently, socialization efforts includes sitting and talking with the dogs, feeding them treats, and helping them realize we humans are okay. Soon they will be introduced to leashes and volunteers will start taking them out for walks.
I'm not available to go out there until next Saturday but as soon as I received my deployment confirmation, I made my flight and hotel reservations. This weekend I'll start packing for this assignment.
It's fortunate that the receptionist job I'm doing came up suddenly and out of nowhere because January is usually a tough month in our house and the extra bucks will allow me to make the trip to Reno (volunteers pay own travel & lodging) without tapping into reserves.
OTOH, I've been needing a haircut and color for a few weeks and between my stylist's schedule, my work, and now this trip to Reno, it looks like I'll be spending Valentine's day with unruly locks and gray roots...bleh!! Oh well, thank goodness for ponytails. I don't think the shelter dogs will mind the roots! :p
Sheesh, with the phones and visitors and all, it takes me hours to write a comment. Can't these people see that I'm doing something important?!! ;o)
I'm not even going to try and proof this but wanted to let you all know you're in my thoughts daily. I return from Reno on Feb 14th and expect to do nothing but sit and relax and start planning our vacation to the midwest in May to attend my niece's wedding and when we get back from that, I'll start getting ready for my birthday cruise on Celebrity's Constellation in Oct/Nov!
YESSSSSS, I (just barely) managed to tie this to today's topic!!
I am so sorry to read about the loved ones lost, friendships gone bad, and heartaches endured. I hope each of you can take comfort in knowing that heartache can't exist without love. The bigger your heartache is, well...that just speaks volumes about your capacity for love.'
DonnaJean, hubby and I took my 80yo MIL on Celebrity Infinity to Alaska in May 2005. I'm sure you went later in the season than us because the bears were just coming out of hibernation when we went and we didn't see any. I have to agree about being treated like royalty. If hubby and I were off somewhere, our stateroom attendant would wheel my MIL to and from the movie room and would often check in with her the evening to see what her plans for the next day were. One of our tablemates had a special diet and the maitre d' would come by our table at the end of every meal to personally take his dinner order for the next evening.
MEK, Maureen, Lovey, and anybody I might have missed ... this trip to Reno will be the first time I've traveled to a strange place by myself since my office sent me to a training class in Orange in 2002. That was easy ... a hotel shuttle picked me up from the airport and the training complex was across the street from my hotel and there were plenty of good places to eat within walking distance. In Reno it could be snowing and I'll have a rental car to get back & forth between my hotel and the shelter. The hotel, airport, and shelter are less than 10 minutes from one another but I'm not good at reading directions and driving at the same time. I plan to try to memorize the routes before I go to make things a little easier on me when I get there! I'm nervous about going alone but too excited about the work Ill be doing there to get all worked up about it.
Sorry again for the long post. Hopefully I can check back in later and again when I'm in Reno. Take care!
Hugs to all,
Caryn/Outatuune
I am guessing, peeing in the bottle lynn??? :)
Caryn sorry you are so busy, but that is fantastic about your trip to Reno!!! I love volunteers!!!
Goldie: I tried that but standing up in a moving car, well lets just say my aim was way off!! LOL My Brother was better!
DonnaJean, you & Laurie Elizabeth will continue to be in my thoughts & prayers. We are a grand bunch here in this blog. I love that we can blog to our hearts content. It is hard to explain our feelings in just a couple of lines. Love it!!
iteach~Loved your post. I have felt that "Mary Tyler Moore" feeling. It is most exhilarating!
I traveled to Hawaii by myself many years ago Hubby didn't want to go. He hates to fly, but bites the bullet when it comes to Vegas LOL! My girfriend & her Hubby were staying there for 3 weeks & invited me to stay with them. Where this small town girl got the guts to do that still amazes me! I went on a whale watch, took a "tourist" submarine ride in the ocean, went to the International Market, pearl shopping and to a luau.
Two years ago my sister, 2 nieces and I decided to go to Ft Meyers Fl. Except for Hawaii, non of us had ever traveled with out our men. It was a blast! I hope to do a "girls only" trip again.
Lynn:
Yes to being on Oahu, but if you don't book the second week I could take a puddle jumper and meet you on another island. Or take the superferry (which I can load my motorcycle on) and meet you all for lunch or something....
Let me know the decision.
mary/mi:
Was it the white submarine? If it was that is the company I work for....lo.
If it was the yellow one (and yes there was a yellow submarine) they are now out of business.
Turtle~
Turtle: That was me that was asking. I will definitely let you know. Can't wait.
sacbarb:
Can you tell I am multi-tasking....my bad.
See what I get for trying to play while at work? lol
Okay, think I finally chose a favorite vaycay over lunch. While certainly not the most adventurous or romantic, I'd have to say it was a week at the Hale Koa on Waikiki with daughter and granddaughter in June of 2001.
Granddaughter had been born in Germany 14 months prior, during SIL's 3-year
Army stint there, so I was one very lonely Nana. Because it was 3 months prior to 9-11-2001 attack, flying was actually pleasurable for the last time.
Accomodations at the Hale Koa are of exceptional quality, and ---- because it's a military hotel with it's own 85 acres adjacent the "Rainbow Hilton" with passcard entry required, no smelly noisy tour busses outside 24/7. The food in its several restaurants is some of the best I've ever had anywhere, and you can't beat buying those travellers' essentials at the p.x. on premises ---- no sales tax or hotel tax!
It was such a delightful family reunion, with daily swims in the pools and ocean, walking the length of Kalakaua Avenue to the zoo, numerous leisurely drives all over the island to hang with the locals, etc., .........a full week of nothing but hugs and Kodak moments.
Now, to catch up on comments since I started this, and then get to work~~~~~sadly, reality beckons.
Hey gang!
Good to hear from you Caryn! WOW I'm so impressed by your volunteer work.
K-Girl you are lucky to live in paradise. One of my very good friends lives on Maui and we got a little tour from her and her husband of the "off the beaten path" places last May when our cruise docked there for the day.
We ate at a wonderful little place called Milagros, it was in Paia (right across the street from the hemp store!)
Bono there are some VERY VERY romantic places around the bay area. I remember a night years ago in SF, slow dancing in a lounge wayyyy up high, the beautiful lights and skyline down below. Ahhhh...
My very favorite romantic place is up the coast in Mendocino, a place called Little River Inn. Used to go there every year in Dec. for anniversary. Just google it and check out the romantic rooms! The double jacuzzi tubs, well what can you say? haha!
OK I don't want to go on and on here! Bye for now!
Kahonuggl~ I'm sure it wasn't yellow. I would have remembered that LOL!! I still have a picture of me with 4 gorgeous Island boys in grass skirts! Can you say Mai-tai!! (sp?)
First: DONNA JEAN:
Oh my gosh, I'm guessing you are wondering how to even proceed with basic stuff like cooking and cleaning? You and Laurie and her white coated healers are in my prayers. I have had open heart surgery and if you need to talk and think it would help at all..I'm at nowmercy@gmail.com. You probably don't have a spare minute to do this, but I'm here if it helps. Overwhelming. Care to you....
Wow Iteach..great topic. Sounds like your vacation was toward yourself! Thank you for reminding me of so many times.
AMICUS: Of COURSE you were with dolphins..that is just perfect!
BIRDEE: Number One..Yay you!
GOLDIE: I love you all stayed longer..who hasn't wanted to do that!
Lynn D: I am dense..mushrooms..another hint please
HY: Welcome!!
MEK: Seagulls..the birds, Hitchcockian
WHABBY: bummer on the computer probs.you make me lol...a lot.
MAUREEN: Yummy Italy and what fun to be a surprise.
SACBARB/MEK/LYNN D: Those long car rides with Dad..me too. It did do a lot for my imagination though..all those miles..ways to wake my sister up, were all those rocks going somewhere? Did all those people going the opposite direction know something we didn't? etc etc....
BONSIS: Right on..EAT PRAY LOVE...what a winner book for inner vacations
EABAY wow (btw I lived in Dublin, Piedmont, Oakland CA)
TURTLE: LOL to Whabby
SANDIE: Yes to Victoria..
TINK: Sounds so good, the going and the coming back.
Outatune: CONGRATULATIONS!
MARYMI: Were you the blogger mentioned on Rosies talky?
Okay..glad to be back but gotta go soon. I have great memories of trips, but still waiting for a great vacation.A time of letting it all go. I do love the ocean, quiet mountains, strange coffee shops, Yellowstone Park, hot springs, desert...etc.
I'll think of more. Going to get dd from school and then she is getting her hair streaked red with henna..a professional job thank goodness...
Peace....hope I didn't leave anyone out..oh..thanks GEM, for your work on keeping the nest in the tree!
Now Mercy~ Lovey asked me the same thing last night. I asked her (Rosie) a question about 6 months ago. I haven't been to her site in a very long time.
I love how so many of you are adventurous!
Can you imagine the bunch of us all together on the prowl in one spot! LOL!! Boggles the mind!!
Good afternoon everyone! I was just starting to read the posts and live vicariously through all your wonderful vacation stories, when Mr. Z came in and asked me to check the traffic report as he is off to work. I will be back in a few to finish...and find out if MEK got to pet the dolphin.
Zona - that would be NO - sorry!! maybe this trip!! LOL
I tried to take a nap - but the wind is blowing SO hard - goodness.
I've enjoyed reading everyone's stories...... I'm on my way to town - I'll be back later tonight. I'm taping Idol.. :-)
IBB - how did the tat go today? Can't wait to hear!!
love to all!!! Hope you guys have an excellent evening..
Hey I apparently don't know all the peeps here in the owls nest, but if you have myspace I am at
myspace.com/turtlehere.
Cause if you've been invited here then your good enough to be added.
Goldie-I think the name of the club my dad belonged to was the CCCC&CC (cross-country coffee can & cigarettes club)
This was before his tour in Thailand during the VietNam era. After he came back, he made adventures out of every road trip and instead of staying in motels he bought a travel trailer and we stayed at campgrounds along the way and at night after we had dinner and roasted marshmallows he would fire up the Coleman gas lantern and we'd play canasta on the picnic table at our campsite.
I started to write about how my mom always made sure Dad had a full Thermos of black coffee and how she never forgot to bring the the coffee can (for the kids to use in the back of the station wagon) and then I remembered how he changed. Thanks for that wonderful trip down memory lane!
Bon'O -- well said about the onsite and offsite friends. I fear I'm more of an absentee friend at the moment.
And EastBayJ -- my parents have the same picture of the tower of Pisa!
Tinka -- you were SO brave to venture out the way you did after your divorce. It's good for us to challenge ourselves once in awhile but I will be the first to admit I'd have been paralyzed at even the idea of doing what you did!
DonnaJean -- I also will keep you and Laurie in my prayers. It sounds like she's doing very well with her diet!
Hmmm, it must be quieter either in this lobby or on the board because I've been able to read all of today's posts so far!
Hugs,
Caryn
Hubby is on his way to work and I am catching up on posts.
I took my favorite road trip when I was five years old. It wasn't a vacation, just a trip on the bus with my mom to Ohio. I loved it more than anything because I got my mom all to myself. We had lunch at the stations along the way, she bought me a coloring book and helped me color. (She was an artist-so she had expertise) I fell asleep against her, a blanket over me and the bus moving smoothly through the night. I loved every minute of it, because it was just my mommy and me. Not until years later did she tell me that she was comforted by me as well on that trip. We were going to her sister's funeral. I never knew.
TINA: Big Fat Sloppy Hugs to YOU!
ITEACH: Thank you for sharing your story, it sparked so many wonderful memories. I am sorry for the loss that you endured that initiated your vacation.
BIRDEE: Your post in Area 51 was incredibly heartfelt. "Her loss..." is so true. Our gain.
MEK: Aw man, I wanted you to pet the dolphin! Maybe Shamu this time?
SACBARB: LOL at Horneymoon!!
KGIRL: My parents always dreamed of going to Hawaii. Sadly, they never were able to. I think of them now, sitting on a white sandy beach and enjoying the ocean breeze...forever.
EBJ: San Francisco is one of the places I really want to visit. I have been invited so many times, and have never been able to go.
GOLDIE: My mom smoked and always sat in the backseat between my sister and I. I wonder how many packs I smoked by the time I was 13?? ;)
TINKA: I have never been anywhere on my own..what a great way to find your courage! Just DO IT!!
BON'O: OK, this snow stuff is getting ridiculous..come down to PHX and get warm for heaven's sake!
DONNAJEAN: Continued prayers and good thoughts for you and Laurie Elizabeth.
Back to reading...
Zona - we'll take a road trip to this year's Bay Area BBQ!!! :-)
Tina - you'll have to lead the march to 100!!! :-)
Oh My Gosh! All this talk of vacations is making my mouth water for a few days off!
I am so loving hearing everyone's experiences, joys, fun and sometime mis-haps! (that sometimes turned into the best times you've had!)
K-girl- Oh, I have been to your little corner of the world several times! I am in love with Hawaii. If I could spend 6 months (winter) in Hawaii, and 6 months in Alaska (summer) I would be in heaven!
Boogie boarding sounds like so much fun! I will tell Laurie, and she will have that as an incentive to get well faster!
Caryn/Outatune- YES! The Infinity! We went in very early October, in fact we were the second to last cruise until winter set in. I agree about the wonderful waiters. We too traveled with an elderly companion on a strict diet, and I remember them coming around the table, near the end of our meal, and Pat being able to pick out her dinner for the next evening. Very nice! And, they remembered just what each of us liked to drink, and it was waiting for us at our place setting each night, as was my Dirty Martini!!! ( I needed one after a long day pushing that wheelchair!)
EBJ- I have stayed at the Little River Inn in Mendocino (actually Little River, but who's counting??) You can actually watch the whales from the bar when they are in season! And I love to just wander around the lttle town of Mendocino, and go into all the cute little shops. So quaint, so relaxing. Everyone in the Bay Area needs to go there. And all of you from out of state, if you travel to San Francisco, take a few extra days and travel north on Highway 1 and you will be in another world!
I want to thank you all again for all the wonderful words of love, encouragement and support you have given to Miss Laurie and myself. It was amazing reading all the comments today!
And reading about everyone's vacations got my mind in a totally different place, which I so needed!
Have a wonderful evening everyone! Oh, LOST is BACK!!! Laurie and I are Lost fanatics, so we are in seventh heaven!
Love you all, Donna
MEK: That would be so much fun! We just can't stop to pick up Brad Pitt, ok? And no trips to the Grand Canyon!
What wonderful posts today! I am having so much fun being on vacation with all of you. My suitcase is pulling me in, too bad my bank account is pushing me away!
When we were kids, we lived in Milwaukee and EVERY vacation consisted of driving from Milwaukee to Cleveland. After we moved to Cleveland, it was going to Milwaukee. Maybe that is why I enjoy seeing so many different places now.
When I was 17, I drove my mom to Niagra Falls and Toronto. It was the first time we went anywhere other then Milwaukee. We had such a fun trip. I was shocked that my mom, (who when I was 17 seemed so old!) was able to walk around and be a tourist! We rode the subway and did all the tourist sites. She had a blast, as did I. At the Science Center, she was part of a tv show that was taping, and she was euphoric! I hadn't thought about this in a while, so thank you ITEACH for letting me think about so many lovely memories.
Oh, I could recant so many, but I will save that for my own blog!
DINNER:
Salmon marinated in low-sodium teryaki sauce
Wild rice
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Asst. Beverages
And almond cookies with sherbet for dessert
Buon Appetito!!
MAUREEN: Both of my parents were from Cleveland. I visited often before I was 7..but remember hardly anything at all.
NowMercy: There were three mushrooms. One about 6 feet tall, 5 feet tall and 4 feet tall. They were sculpted out of wood (good choice) and the tops were circumcised. Now don't make me paint a picture.
Zona: I love your stories about your Mom it just fascinates me that she was an artist.
Tina I saw your post yesterday and loved it. Now please come out and play!
Jodi: Where the hell are you???
Dianne: Are you still alive???
Hi Mary: I really want to travel with you!
If I missed anybody and I am sure I have my head is not screwed on to tight today and my brain seems to be wandering all over. I love you guys!
I missed Vig! Vig I hope you get to come and play soon too!!!!
Mo- dinner sounds great, except I will pass on the wild rice, thank you.
I have a pan of fudge/walnut brownies in the oven, when they are slightly cooled I will put them on the counter with some Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream. Please leave one for hubby- he is expecting one when he gets home.
HI ALL! I was sitting here, reading everyones comments, taking notes, notes, more notes, and more notes. Now I'm tired. I was going to comment back to everyone by name, but there are just waaaaay to many posts now! So instead....I have read ALL of the comments and think they all sound fantastic! LOL!
Actually, so many of you have brought back wonderful memories for me. I did not travel much at all as a kid. We were a big family of 7 and it just was not in the budget. We took one vacation to Disneyland when I was in the second grade. We drove from WA ST down there with a car sick sister, a brother who crashed his bike the day before we left and had road rash all down his back with nasty ass bandages that needed to be changed, and a baby brother with diarrhea. I had a fantastic time. I don't think my mom did though. Other than that one trip, any other time we went somewhere it was to the Oregon Coast. But since I have been married, we have taken the kids all over, or taken trips with out them. I don't think I can pick a favorite. We have been to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Victoria, Whistler, Mexico, Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Badlands, Custer National Park, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Fran, San Diego, Carmel, Glacier, Sun Valley. They all were special. They all had something spectacular. Like seeing the start of the Iditarod in Willow, AK. Getting my first tattoo in Hawaii when I went there for the first time with my mom, sisters and daughter. Getting that same tattoo bitten by a fish when I was in the water in the Bahamas. Being in Victoria when Tonya wacked Nancy. Being in Hawaii when 9/11 happened. We always seemed to have something happen when we are out of town. Funny thing. My hubby is not a member of the HOLD IT UNTIL WE GET THERE MENS CLUB. Nope. We laugh at him because he stops at every rest area we come too! So I really don't think I can pick a favorite. We always try to see and do so much when we go somewhere that we always plan on coming back a day or two before we have to return to work just so that we can recover from the trip! But I don't think I have looked to forward to a trip as I am the trip we are taking to Europe in September. I still can not believe we are really going! I watched The Sound of Music not too long ago, and everytime I saw something spectacular I would think "I'm going there. I'm going to see that!"
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!
barb - you have been blessed to be able to travel to so many places. I have been to many places as well and can't say I ever had a bad vacation. Oh, and wait until you see the castles and churches in Germany. The history and the cultures of Europe is something everyone should get to experience at least once.
When I read Tonya whacked Nancy i had visions of the Sapranos. Then I remembered the ice skating whacking!
LMAO Barb in WA I read your post and went Tony whacked Nancy!!! Is that a family member??? Does Barb belong to the mafia family. Note to self Don't Piss of Barb!!!
Luckily I saw Goldies post and went OHHHHH!
I am so happy for you going to Europe!!!
My two dream trips would be Italy and Ireland.
iteach~ Thank you for such a wonderful topic~ I'm so sorry for your loss, but I can see it has made you a stronger person....and I love Atlanta (whispering) it's our hub~ :)~
Favorite Vacation #1:
Dad won't fly! Won't even look at an airplane. You see, he was on an aircraft carrier in the Navy and was almost killed by one of "those crazy pilots!" So.....we drove up the California coast every time we went on vacation. We never left CA...i so just wanted to cross any border just to say I had been to another state! BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~ We had a 1970 gold Gran Torino...I sat behind dad so I could "help" drive~ We went to Hearst Castle...stayed in a Motel 6 in San Fran....loved that city....went to Winchester House in San Jose....and once we spent the night by the side of the road next to the Russian River....Mom, and the two youngest in the car and my dad, bro and I in our sleeping bags on the dirt! What I didn't know that night was that my brothers had lost their snakes and they were crawling around while we slept! They told me the next morning!!! YUCK!!! Once they lost two salamanders in a Motel near Redding~ My parents didn't smoke..thank God!!!...but we couldn't go potty until Dad was ready to stop~ :)~
LMAO at goldie and Lynn d!
So funny!
I can not wait to see Germany, Austria and Switzerland! I mean come on.....I'm going to be staying at the foot of The Matterhorn! And we're not talking the one in Disneyland! I'm just so excited. I have started putting money away because I want to have money to spend on whatever I want. Who knows if I will ever make it back there. So if I see something I want, well dang it, I'm gonna buy it! How I will get the sucker home will just have to be dealt with at the time of purchase!
tina
I was waiting for the snake up the pajama leg story....lol.
Damn!
Favorite Vacation #2:
My friend moved with her family to Australia~ She invited me to go see her~ I had never been on a trip by myself but was DYING to go~ So I did.....it was the longest flight ever!!! LAX to HNL to Cairns to Syndey to Coolangetta~ Took me 23 hrs. But it was worth it. I went gambling for the first time, I got to see what it was like driving on the "wrong" side of the road, held a Koala bear, pet kangaroos, and turned into a lobster after 15 min in the sun~ It was the trip of a lifetime, and on my last day there, I woke up to kangaroos hopping thru the frontyard to the back and beyond. My friends family said that had never happened before~ Needless to say, I cried all the way home~ Oh....and one of the Professors I worked for at my college was on my flight home...small world~
Tina~ cool story. The two places I would like to go are Italy and Australia.
Speaking of small world. Years ago we were on our way to the Black Hills for our honeymoon, and stopped at Wall Drug, SD (the proverbial tourist trap) when suddenly I hear "Hi John and Heidi". Turn around and find a couple we know from our own small hometown in WI. They too were on vacation and just "had to stop" too.
Goldie The smell of warm brownies got my attention. lol Thank you.
Birdee Congrats on #1 today.
iteach Thank you for your wonderful blog today. What great stories and adventures. I feel like I've been on a mini-vacation just reading them all.
I've been to a number of places and some stand out for different reasons. I've been to Alaska twice and would go again in a heartbeat. Breathtaking and had a wonderful helicopter ride there, landing on and walking around on a glacier. Awesome.
I think one of the most memorable would have to be one of our trips to Hawaii. On this particular trip it was me, my hubby, my mom and my brother. My mom would have been in her early 60's and I in my late 40's.
We had spent several days in Maui and then spent a few in Kauai. Those of you who have been there, know it is quite rural and not all touristy like some of the islands. Anyway, it was about 10 pm, my hubby and brother were both fast asleep and my mother and I were having a craving for Oreos and milk. We had noticed that there was a shopping center on the highway not that far from our hotel so we set out walking to it.
As I said earlier, Kauai is pretty rural. We are on a small road heading towards the lights of the occasional car on the highway, there are no street lights and there are fields on either side of us. It was farther away than we first thought and it must have taken us 20 minutes to get there.
Every single store in the shopping center was closed, it was pitch black outside with only some geckos on the walls and a couple of cars in the parking lot. Suddenly we see a young couple. We ask them if maybe we could find a store with Oreos if we started walking down the highway. "Oh, no", they tell us, "way too dangerous". They proceed to give us complicated directions on how to take some back streets to get to a 7-11. We basically beg these perfect strangers to please give us a ride to the store and we will walk back. After discussing it a moment they agree to give us a ride but tell us we will have to sit in the back. Well, of course, no problem. We follow them, walking past the sedan that was parked closest to us, and over to their vehicle, a pickup truck.
One thing my mother has always hated is wind blowing through her hair, messing it up. We climb into the back of the pickup. It was not that easy for either of us, especially since we were now laughing at how absurd this all was. As we rode along, bouncing around in the back of the pickup, my mother's hair flying all over the place, we were laughing so hard we were crying. Here we were hitch-hiking in the back of a pickup and nobody knew we were even missing from our hotel!
Well, we got our cookies and milk and started the long trek back to the hotel. We could barely walk because we kept laughing so hard. Of course it also started raining on us so now mom's hair was plastered to her head. We laughed even harder.
They guys never did wake up and had no idea we were ever missing. Mom will be 80 this March and we still laugh at the memories we made during that vacation.
kahonugrl~ i was going to write these in order....but I gotta tell you....one of my friends at work is from Hawaii. She loves to tell me that all us white people only do the touristy things in Hawaii~ (and she knows I'm Mexican!!!) So when I told her that hubby had a conference to go to on Oahu, she said she would meet me on my 5th day there. When she arrived she was SHOCKED at what I told her that we had been doing! We didn't eat in Waikiki....we ate at all these hole in the wall local places away from there....and we stopped at a stand to have shrimp on the North Shore....and we hiked....and I even mapped out all the local scrapbook shops and spent a day going to all of them~ She was so proud of me....she took me to Bubbies for ice cream to celebrate~ (I love ice cream!) Anywho...your description of the island is my vacation and thanks for the reminder~ :)~
Favorite Vacation #3:
Hubby and I FINALLY got to take a vacation together. Most people call it a honeymoon……one person I know calls it a Horneymoon~ :)~ We went to Vancouver and Victoria~ The week before we left, I met a family from Vancouver at work. I told them hubby and I would be there after we were married and they said to look them up~ So I bought them more of what they had purchased to bring to them and hubby and I called them when we got there. We didn't want to bother them and it turns out they didn’t want to bother us, but we ended up having dinner with them and they have also visited us in CA and UT. In Victoria, for some reason we went to this park and were feeding the ducks….hubby started talking to this lady and before we knew it, she invited us to her apartment for a drink. We got in the elevator with her and she freaking pressed the PH button~ You should have seen the looks we gave each other!~ The view was breathtaking from her penthouse…..unbelievable~ Although I loved both cities and enjoyed the sites, it was the people we met that made this trip so special~
Goldie~ isn't it just crazy when you meet up with someone you know?~ One 4th of July in Washington D.C., after the fireworks were over, I ran into a friend from work while trying to make our way to the subway~ ca-razee~
91
92
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think anyone is noticing?
nope~
97
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100
I needed that~ :)~
100?????????????????????
TINA, you whore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I knew it! Tina you shut the blog down to reach 100!!!! I could not post or sign in for the last 5 min.!!!
I was going to say I loved your post but you my dear are a Slut!!!
You are all so bad! I tried to sneak in, but there was a stampede and missed it all ! LOL!!
Tina....I would love to go to Australia! Same with Africa and Egypt. But I know I will never do it. Australia just because of how long the flight is, plus the cost. As for Africa and Egypt, I would never go because I would be terrified the entire time I was there! If there is ever a time in my lifetime where we can travel safely to those places, I would go.
Tina! You crack me up!!!
Tina Congrats! Once again I forgot to pay attention. I must be getting old.
DonnaJean You know how I feel and how much I am hoping for the best for you and your Laurie. (((HUGS)))
tina~ that was you that turned off the blog?? Geez girl, you didn't even give us a fighting chance.
just_lin, sounds like something my Mom and I would do and that made me smile. She is a gamer too.
You should see the pic I have of her smoking a cigar at my sisters wedding. I told her a couple of weeks ago when we were moving her that if she didn't chill out I was going to give her a joint to smoke. she said 'ok, you only live once!' I about fell over laughing, and my poor brother was choking on his own spit! The woman is almost 77 years old.
OMG just_lin.....that is friggen hilarious! I love that story! I can just picture you and your mom doing that...all for an oreo! Love it!
Tina I am calm now. I loved your post about Australia. I need to put that on my list of places. Though I agree with Barb that it is a long flight!
Just Lin: I loved that story! Oreo cravings are the worst! But getting into a pick up with strangers???
So....I'm a slut and a whore~ And I haven't even told you about Amsterdam yet~ :)~
Tina I bet you have your own window!
Lynn D~ if I said yes, would you come and buy "something"? :)~
OK, so I just thought of a kinda funny vaca story.
When we were in the Bahamas I wanted to get one of those braids in my hair with the little beads on the end. I can't remember how much it was, but I ended up not wanting to pay for it. So basically I chickened out on doing it. So after going around the Straw Market, we took a water taxi to the Atlantis Hotel to check it out. There is a casino in the Atlantis so hubby decided to play some slots. Well he won a bunch of money! So we went back to the Straw Market and went shopping. He asked me if I still wanted to get the Bahama Mama beads in my hair. I said yes, so I did! We went to this little stand and I asked a woman if I could get just one braid with the beads. Of course she said. So she had this young gal come over and she told her what I wanted. I went to the back of the shop with girl and she started to bead my hair. And kept going. And going.....and going....She was giving me these Bo Derek 10 braids all over my head! Robert was giving me this look like "Whaaa????" total confusion. I was wondering what the hell am I suppose to say. So finally after like the 7th braid I said "Hey I just wanted one braid." And this girl was all "Oh no. You will like this. You want me to do all your hair." So we kinda started going back and forth, me no, her oh yeh you like this! Finally I yelled at her to "Stop! I only wanted one! Do not do any more!" Well now the older shop lady came over and started yelling and the girl that she was only suppose to put one braid in my hair, and the lady started taking the braids out. She left just the one that I had wanted. Well they were still fighting, and we were trying to pay them for the braid, and the older woman was telling us that there was no charge because the other girl did not do what I wanted. Well the young gal started yelling that she had done all that work and wanted to be paid for it when SMACK!!!! the older lady slapped her right across the face! We were so shocked! The older lady looked at us again and said no charge. So we walked out of the shop and walked straight to the cruise ship!
GOLDIE, Your mom is priceless! I smiled a big smile when I read your post. It sounds like your mom coulda been my mom's best friend!
JUST LIN, hilarious!!
TINA, shall I assume you were in one of those infamous windows in Amsterdam?! LOL
Note to self: Don't braid Barb's hair~
Mo~ do you know what happens when you assume?
Tina:
BUBBIES!!!! OMG, that place is da bombdiggity. Did you get your ice cream in a tub or a toilet ceramic thingy? For those who have never been there, it is "homemade" and the flavors are outstanding all natural ingredients. I took my mom there once the first time my parents made it to Hawaii. They had always wanted to come but couldn't afford it. After moving here my Dad learned he had cancer and then they finally came. Luckily they came a second time before he passed, and since he passed Mom makes her annual migration away from the midwest cold to spend 5-7 weeks here during jan-feb-march.
Was the shrimp truck white or yellow? If it was the yellow one then you we're served by two friends of mine.
I love taking people around. It is always nice to see things like the Arizona memorial, a Luau, Hula etc.....but when you go to a real luau at some friends house or a baby's first luau at a park you see the genuine thing. The Auntie's and Uncle's playing guitar and ukulele, they dance hula without announcement and without expectation. The food is "ono" (yummy or good) and before you know it the sun is going down and your being sent home with leftovers for a week.
And even though I am technically a "Haole" I am accepted as local cause I speak dakine pidgeon, and offer the same respect they offer me. This place is amazing! ok enuff bragging sorry....
Damn small world, now you make me want to go Moilili and grab me some Bubbies!
Lynn & Goldie and anyone else who wants to go to Italy, let's pack our bags and go!! I'm not getting any younger LOL!!
Goldie~ Dagnabit! I need a brownie!!
Barbara~LMAO! Could you hear Nancy scream? HEH HEH!
Just_Lynn~Loved that memory! I am still smiling!
I'm watching Idol,so far pretty tame...........egads!.... mums the word
Kahonugrl~ Is everything in Hawaii yellow or white? LOL!
MARYinMI- can I come, too? PULEEEZE! I'll even buy you a gelato (don't tell TINA!)
Can you imagine a flock of owls invading Italy! We would hoot the hell outta them!! We would probably be laughing soooo hard the whole time that we'd get escorted out of everywhere we went!!
Tina: What have you got for sale??? LMAO
Mary/MI I need a passport but dang if I am not ready to go!!!
Geez Barb! Get a Girl slapped and everything. Tina Don't give her beads either! LOL
Mary/MI: LMAO I did not catch that!Trucks and Submarines!
mary/mi:
well not everything....but as far as submarines and shrimp trucks go then the answer would be yes....lol
Lin and Goldie: loved your stories. I hope that when I am 77 I am still a gamer too. I already shock my kids on a regular basis...it's my job. I love to keep them "off balance."
BTW, what is IN these brownies. They are really good and I can't stop eating them.
LynnD~ What a worldy woman like you with no passport? I'm shocked!?
Maureen~ I would sa "pack your bags" but we have to wait for LynnD to get her pass port. Please tell her to "shake a leg".
Any tartar and lemon left for the salmon? Mine's a little dry.
The more of these I read the more I'm POSITIVE we're going to have to form a "Hootin' Red Hatters" tour group! I can just see all of us in red & purple storming across America and beyond. And, no worries, Owlettes, we'll find you something pretty in pink to wear --esp. our whab who's not quite at Red Hat status YET :=)
Mary I stated earlier only been to Canada! When I went all you needed was your drivers license and birth certificate!
I keep saying someday! Maybe I should just apply for the damn thing and then the universe will deliver.
Will be back in a bit going to go eat some dinner.
LYNN D -
SHAKE A LEG (and your left boobie, too!)DAMN IT.
Mary and I are waiting.........
Little secret for those who don't want the smoke in their lungs...;)
No passport?? Do you know how long it takes to get a decent photo for one of those? My god women, you have to go to Walgreens at least 10 times to get it right before you even apply! Chop, chop woman!!
sacbarb ~~ you're supposed to share the Alice B brownies, dammit!
Barb~ Hubby and I went to the Bahamas a long time ago. We were as "green" as you can get. Some local came up to us and asked we we "wanted something for da nose". We looked at each other and said "eh?" We found out later he wasn't inquiring about our sinuses LOL!! Note to hubby ~ stay away from the coconut rum!
SACBARB: Kinda sneaks up on ya, doesn't it? ;)
Why am I eating brownies and have the munchies at the same time????
Oh what pretty colors on my screen, groovy.
Everyone looks like an owl, man these are some good brownies.
Pffft, what the heck? A seed in my brownie?????
MAUREEN: Better watch out for stems too..where a seed, surely a stem!
Favorite Vacation #5:
(hawaii was #4) My 2 dreams have always been to see Florence, Italy (not South Carolina) and to go to an audience with the Pope~ Hubby decided that we needed to go to Europe…..just the two of us. So we went to London….it was nice….then to Paris….I fell in love with it….then to Rome~ Actually, he went to Rome while I spent most of my time in Vatican City~ :D We stayed at a convent and the nuns there got us tickets for the general audience with Pope John Paul II. It was so amazing and humbling. We took a backpack full of rosary's to be blessed…..i knew it would make my mom happy~ On our third day there, hubby asked if we could see Rome. I looked at him like he was on crack…what the heck did he think we were doing? He looked at me….you know THE LOOK….and he said, "We have been in the VATICAN for 3 days…..and we haven't seen any of ROME!!!!" So off to Rome we went…..and I discovered Gelato~ OMG!!!! Nectar of the GODS!!!!!! Have I mentioned that I adore my hubby? A couple of days later, he asked me if I wanted to spend the day in Florence~ Dream #2~ Accomplished~ We saw David……actually….hubby lost me in the museum….finally thought to look behind the statue of David and there I was gazing up at his backside……looks pretty much the same as hubby~ :)~ And the gelato in Florence was better than in Rome~ It was a glorious day and the best trip~ A few years ago, we took the kids and it was so fun to see it thru their eyes~
iteach....you really shouldn't get me started on this topic....it's my favorite....but I'll stop~ :)~
TINA: OK...now you're just showing off...have I told you about my trip to Tucson???
ummm, tina, I went to Florence, SC . . .
my next favorite trip is the one I am on now from the brownies!
don't even need a passport or a suitcase!
and i can still say i never inhaled!
weenie:
A seed, plant the damn thing! It could be your new side business.
TINA: Is Gelato Italian for jello?? ;) I'm trying to learn ya know...
Zona~ I said I'll stop~ :)~ I've been to Tucson~
Sandie~ I love SC....LOVE IT~
LynnD~ Is that the mushroom you were talking about? The one I left on your page?
K-girl~ White....all white...but yummy~ :)~
...and I'm but an hour from Florence (Oregon).
anybody got dental floss?
Ladies & Whabby,
I just love love your vacations. I will get back to you in a little bit about all them.
All my children are taking turns on having melt downs tonight. So I will be back in a jiffy.
Maureen Your~ Your having waaay too many brownies! How many fingers am I holding up??
Zona~ How do you know about stems?
OOps, sorry about the seeds. No stems, I promise.
Where are the MEK sisters?
I am off to venture over the mountians to my little abode on the windward side. So don't have too much fun while I am stuck in traffic looking at rainbows over the Koolau's.
And Zona: Whoever left in the stems has shorted them, and is hoarding all the good stuff. Seeds and stems just isn't right.
Whabby: ready to get leid?
Oh and Mary/MI my auto is blue with a white stripe...lmao
mary, ummmmm i see 20.
did i win??????
anyone got milk? and chips? and doritos? and m&m's? and pretzels?
MARY/MI: That answer goes with the story about falling down the mountain...
TINA: Our state prison is in Florence..
Goldie and Tina,
Speaking of small worlds, we ran into an old high school algebra teacher at a small cafe along the Grand Canal in Venice!
Then we ran into him again another day, stopped to get something to drink at a small Italian town.
I've so enjoyed reading everyone's travel stories today!
one MEK sister is prob'ly nursing an owie.....& I tho't she was tough! How do I take back the MySpace comment I sent her last night about tattooed people kickin' boot? She better show up to show off! Couldn't be a work thing could it? I hear some people still do that.
Dang, I knew every state had a Springfield. Everyone have a Florence also?
Brownies made me thirsty. Anybody else want a Fat Tire?
I don't know if GA has a Florence--but I had an Aunt Florence.
**sniff**sniff**
I smell brownies....
Mary, MEK is gone for the day and said she would check in when she came home later tonight. Sis is probably (I am thinking) delivering pizza? I think she needs to drop one off at Mo's. I hear she has a case of the munchies for some unknown reason. I personally would have no knowledge of the reason. ;)
In keeping with tonight's theme, in more ways than one--I'm off to watch LOST...anyone wanna come with?
LOL @ Tina...now that was a good dive to 100
I think I may have to put another batch of brownies in the oven, there doesn't seem to be much left of the first batch.
Bon Bon I'm packed n ready for the Hootin Red Hatters tour
Maureen~ munchies eh? You failed the finger test! Someone told me that mountains & something to do with stems, don't belong togethe.
BonO! Auntie Florence is in a nursing home in Florida. Does that sound like an exciting vacation?
LOVE THE OWL *lovey*- its a real hoot!!
gosh, that was rude....myspace Tom's new bulletin about Zune music skins...pulled it up in another (well it WAS my 6th) window & blew me out of the water.
What'd I miss? SB passed out yet?
LOL Thanks GOLDIE!!
How rude indeed bon bon!
No one passed out yet, but there are a few people with the munchies and giggling.
mary/mi ~~ are we talking about a REAL Aunt Florence or iteach's reknowned Aunt Flo?
((lovey)) ~~ a purple mini-dress and perhaps a nice boa & you are SET girl!
I knew I was sniffin a
"special" ingred. in those brownies.
Thanks Goldie :+)
Let me know when the second batch of brownies are done. I have a sudden urge to look for my tie dye t-shirt and black light!
Adorable owl, lovey!
This was great reading all the OWLs'travels today.
Great bloggin everyone!!!
LMAO Mary & I'll put the "Cheech n Chong- Up in Smoke" album on
Thanks Sandie :o)
Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
sorry Zona, missed your question. I dont watch Lost. I am far too busy cleaning the ingredients fpr the brownies I am baking..
I so agree about the mini and boa. With that hat you can pull it off lovey!
goldie ~~ we're home free on the munchie scene. When I went out between snowstorms to stock up for Sunday, I got crunchy cheetos, hone BBQ Frito twists, and the new Cheetos crunchy 'Chile Limon' style. Talk about some salty pucker power!
Lovey LMAO at your red hat owl!
Lovey I love your owl with the hat.
MAKE LOVE NOT WAR! Oh, and pass me another brownie before I start giggling again.
LynnD You really showed them didn't you, Anonymous?
freaking mother of pearl~ Aunt Flo is in UT~ :(
Zona...don't tell me...hope to watch Lost tomorrow~ :D
HEY...Who ate the rest of the borwnies????????? I should have never said they were good. Goldie, can you whip up another batch...and don't tell MO
mary/mi ~ you just tell me what kind of hippy fashion you want & I'll o'night it your way. I do live in the world capital of tie-dye, hemp and Birkenstocks!
LMAO Yes I did and you got it!!! ROFLMAO
BonO~ I don't know. Ask me tomorrow when this haze wears off! She may be Sandies Aunt too!
Lovey~ Love your purple hatter!
It's getting hot in here!
Tina ~~ I thought you banished Aunt Flo from the state. Whatchu talkin' about??
I am seriously getting the giggles here...could it be the Fat Tire & brownie combo?
Ok, another batch. But thats it- these special 'ingredients' aren't cheap you know! The price seems to have gone up since I was a teenager.
WHAT IS IN THOSE BROWNIES? YOU PEOPLE ARE TALKING LIKE YOU ARE ON CRACK~ :)~
yeah lynn, we never knew you were the anonymous with the froggie legs....
BonO~ Forget the O-night. I'm on my way!
Crack a Lacka :)
now Tina~ I would never do such a thing. A little 'oregeno' though just adds some flavor
Goldie I was just breakin the rules!
It states this blog does not allow anonymous comments!
Well it allowed mine!
Are we going to start marching soon?
right, left, right....
me, I want to be 200
194
the rest of you go get some more brownies..
196
me
me
198
200
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