The Journey Continues

Day 2 on the road begins. We laughed when we checked into the hotel and there was an envelope on the nightstand that said "Gratuities Appreciated". Certainly hope the housekeeping staff appreciates the "gratuity" we left for them.
But then again this is Utah, so probably it was wasted on them. Mark suggested a "Fume Blanc Mimosa" but after the Pinto Bean Pie last night and a 500+ miles journey I didn't want to chance it.
So what was it I said yesterday about boring landscape? Ok I forgot about southern Utah. Sorry, Karen but this is the epitome of boring landscape to me. Just one of the few picture worthy highlights.We left 90+ temps in San Diego and they were supposed to steadily rise during the week while we were gone. Here's what we encountered as we crossed the Rocky Mountains today. For you in San Diego - that's not white soil - it's snow on the first day of fall.
This was about an hour outside of Denver on our way to see my cousins, just before reaching the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Gotta love a place that has 2 mile plus tunnel through a snowy mountain pass. The rest of the trip to Denver was uneventful. Absolutely loved seeing Jim and Judy and their 1928 carriage house in Denver. Judy, however is no longer allowed to be our photographer as you can see from her photo of Mark, Jim and I.

That's okay Judy, your hospitality and your dessert more than made up for your photography. Thanks again to Jim and Judy for the great hospitality.
Tomorrow onto Omaha and Laura!

Off We Go!

So day 1 of our journey is now history. Man, did this trip just reinforce for me how much I hate the desert. After having grown up in the high desert of California, I think I can say unequivocally, “I HATE THE DESERT!” The landscape is boring and if I see one more Joshua tree, YIKES!"

So we started out from San Diego today and headed out east.

Most of the ride to Barstow is old hand for us since it is the same route we take to Palmdale and the Antelope Valley. Hey, didn’t I just make this drive less than a week ago? Anyway, next stop the booming town of Barstow.


Mark decided he had enough of driving so I took over from there to St. George, Utah. Thank goodness for billboards. Love the lawyers in Las Vegas. They must pay a fortune to the phone company for numbers like 444-4444 or 200-0000. Just thought that was amusing.

Off to bed in Beaver, Utah.

Stop laughing . . . more tomorrow

Cricut Great Escape!

This is contest entry from those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site! http://bit.ly/FWcud
Great Escape Meme
1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be?
The Mayfair section of London. I love the look of the row houses and the window gardens. I feel like singing “I Could Have Danced All Night” when I walk down the street.
2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car?
Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel
3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do?
Kidnap my sweetie to a room at the Hotel del Coronado, share a bottle of Grigch Hills Fume Blanc with him and then take a pedicab ride along the boardwalk to the Ferry Landing. Hop on the ferry for a moonlight stroll to the other side of the bay for a romantic dinner at the Star of the Sea Room. After dinner would have a limo ride to all of our favorite San Diego spots while enjoying some of our favorite California champagne!
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Watching any of the Tyler Perry movies while enjoying black licorice, Hot Tamales and peanut butter fudge ice cream.
5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home?
Sydney, Australia
6. Last book that you couldn't put down?
It isn’t the last book I’ve read but it is certainly one that I have enjoyed and couldn’t put down when I read it earlier this year – “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch?
“The Best Years of Our Lives”. I love imagining what life was like for my parents in the years following WWII.
8. What is your favorite local escape?
The beach at La Jolla Shores
9. How do you escape on a budget?
Put a picnic together and go to the beach.
A quick trip to our friends’ cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation.
A beautifully butterflied rainbow trout freshly caught out of the stream.

OK Tag you are it: Karen (sethro), Chiara, Johnna and Dawn!

Too Much Technology!

Between Facebook, my friends at HoP and day-to-day emails I seem to have let the blog be ignored. Oh yea, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with not 1 but 2 girls' weekends in the month of August!. Yes, I'm spoiled and I know it, so there!
Look how much fun we had!The birthday girl, Amy is on the far right! How in the hell can she be 40? I swear it was not that long ago that my mom, dad and I were jumping up and down in the kitchen of our house in Lancaster with the news that there was a new little girl in our family! I know that Cara knows exactly what I'm talking about. She's sitting next to me on the left. Oh and she's the "Cara" in Amy Cara! After all, in addition to Cara trying to figure out how Amy got to be 40, she's also trying to figure out how Kim got there. Me too! Hey Kimmy, you are the first baby I ever changed diapers for, thanks to your mom! No 40+ years have not ticked off. Cara and I are living in a time warp. Enough on that topic!

Now what do girls do in Napa to celebrate a birthday?
HELLO! Can you say RELAX?? Now this is how I like spending a Saturday morning. Cranberry/Ginger infused water, cucumbers on the eyeballs and fresh from a pedicure in a zero gravity chair.
The beautiful results! Mine are the purple ones, and, Laura, Lisa knew immediately that I had picked out this color. She thought it was pretty bold for me! I love all our toes!
And then of course, what trip would be complete without some great food!
We were not disappointed. Between the dinner at the Culinary Institute of America, lunch at Michael Chiarello's Napa Style as well as some great snacks along the way we were well fed! This was from brunch on Sunday at the Westin.

Just two weeks later it was time for Susie's annual tribute to strong women retreat at her lovely mountain cabin in Aspendell. This year we only had four participants.
Small group but wonderful company. Love these women. Peg, Sue Sharon and I kicked back and enjoyed the wonderful weather and ambiance of the Sierras. And what trip to Aspendell is complete without a stop at "Lemon Drop Lane"?

We spent a good deal of time reading, relaxing and enjoying each others' company. On Friday the weather was mild enough that we were able to hike to Lake Sabrina.
All in all two wonderful weekends with some really great women. Love you all!