So I've been trying to get Hubby to eat healthier for awhile. He wasn't thrilled when I began introducing more vegetables into our diet. He likes broccoli, broccoli and broccoli. I am a veggie fiend - I love just about all of them. Except, of course, lima beans.
Our diet consists of mostly chicken and rices. Occasional pastas. Lots of sandwiches for lunch. Ice cream is a staple. I started introducing veggies and salads, but due to the lack of enthusiasm from the non-veggie camp I've let those slide a bit.
Somehow, we both found ourselves along an intersecting path of thought this past week. I had already made the decision to bring back the salads into our nightly meal and begin having bigger salads for lunch. I had been working on giving up extra sugars...eliminating sodas, using only creamers in my coffee and stifling my inner Southerner and going with *gasp* unsweet tea. Suddenly, last weekend Hubby announced his intention to start following the Atkins diet on Tuesday. He was at least considerate enough to account for the roast that I planned in the crock pot on Monday.
I thought very briefly about picking up the diet with him, but then remembered the glorious food extravaganza planned for "Employee Appreciation Week" at work. I'm no fool...so I picked up the Atkins diet starting with diner on Friday night. :D
So here I am...day 2. Dinner Friday night was rosemary chicken with salad. We were on a road trip all day Saturday so lunch was a giant cobb salad topped with steak strips and vinaigrette dressing on the side, and dinner was a mushroom jack cheese burger (minus the bun) with a salad...ranch on the side. Unsweet tea for both meals. And string cheese with bottled water for snacks.
What I have stumbled with the most so far is my inability to stomach eggs. I used to love them, but a few months ago I suddenly couldn't stand the thought of eating them anymore. So this morning I got up and went to the grocery store...picked up some sausage and veggies to make snacks from. I'll eat either a burger patty for breakfast or prepare some recommended veggie snacks like sliced tomato/mozzarella/basil under the broiler or cucumber boats filled with chicken salad. Maybe cucumber sticks wrapped with lunch meats.
What am I hoping for? Lost weight, of course. Hubby is already down over five pounds. I'm also hoping that we both start feeling better about ourselves. Hubby no longer suffers from after dinner lethargy. And after his stomach surgery in 2005, he's suffered from some pretty awful side effects that we've pegged to have been caused by carbs. He has reported no issues this past week and that he actually feels better after meals.
So...hello Dr. Atkins. Welcome to my life and my refrigerator. Let's make this a good journey, shall we?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Cabin Fever + Spring Fever = Garden Gnoming
This happens to me every year right around my birthday. As the winter chill begins to thaw, and the temperatures warm up just a bit…I start wanting to get outside and bask in the springy weather.
Every March, my thoughts start turning towards gardening and it becomes an obsession with me. I start imagining gorgeous flowers and lush greenery surrounding us in our outdoor living spaces and I feel a warmth inside of me that I cannot wait to let out. I want to go to the garden centers and browse their enormous selection of plants and I start daydreaming about what will look good placed in my gardens.
Two years ago, we put up a patio cover and suddenly our patio became a pleasant place to be. With the necessary shade on our west-facing patio, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors, and I was able to get things to grow in containers on the patio that made it a much more enjoyable place to be.
About a year ago, we pulled out a bunch of established plants in our front and back yard garden beds. Most of what we pulled were shrubs that did nothing other than sit there and be green. That’s all fine and good, but I want colorful flowers, too! So up came the shrubbery and in went roses, lilies, lavender, hydrangeas rhododendron and heavenly bamboo. Everything survived, except for one hydrangea, the rhododendron and one rose. And the survivors are flourishing, along with my previously planted confederate jasmine!
This year, I am determined to finish the front garden bed (only half-planted last year) and have been looking into shrub-like plants to plant between our yard and the neighbors’ driveway. I came up with Sweet Broom (yellow, fragrant flowers) and am giving an Azalea a try under the tree. I still need to decide what will work at the base of the tree next to the sidewalk…that area has become overrun with grass and needs to be cleaned out.
I think that I am going for a cottage look in the front of the house…the lavender that I planted next to the front door thrived and grew…I had to cut it back substantially a couple of weeks ago and can’t wait for it to start blooming with the coming warm weather. Sadly, one of my hydrangeas didn’t survive, so I went out and bought two more and planted them in front of our windows in the front of the house. Both purple roses are doing well…once everything in that bed begins to mature and expand, it will make a nice, lush garden of flowering fragrant wonder to enjoy.
In the back garden beds, I replaced the failed rose with a hibiscus. I do so love these plants and hope that this coral beauty grows and thrives. Especially since I will be able to view it from the bedroom window.
I continue to work on my annual container garden. This year, hubby helped me design a cinder-block and wooden shelving structure to place in the corner of our patio against the fence…creating a tiered unit to house a variety of plants…half of which will receive some form of sunlight, and half of which will not. I spent a few days arranging pots in an artful yet practical way, and Hubby put in a drip irrigation system for me so that everything will receive water in the coming months. This will be especially important during the baking summer months.
I spent yesterday filling pots and getting the container garden set up. I have a wonderful assortment of fuschias, begonias, impatiens, strawberries, tomatoes, English ivy, ferns, marigolds, stock annuals, columbine, dianthus, delphinium, coral bells, lobelia and a purple potato bush filling my pots and I am hoping for another resurgence for my mums. I still have pots to fill, but think that I will wait to see what else comes out at the garden centers as the season progresses.
I even tackled the small patio garden bed and put in what I hope to be permanent vines…pink jasmine. I chose them because they’re so fragrant and grow quickly…I look forward to sitting around the fire pit on the patio and basking in their scent!
I still need to find the energy to get everything mulched…that means at least one more trip to the garden center this week. And I have more pots to place and fill…I may finally tackle the empty spot at the end of the driveway, but need to look into converting the existing sprinkler into a drip system for the plans that I have in my head.
I do so love to plan and organize my little gardens. I wish that we had more space…I’d work in a vegetable garden and spend the spring and summer months tending to vegetables and herbs. Alas, that will be something for the future. In the mean time, I spend my time concentrating on the little pot of land that we have and putting together a pleasant little area for us to live in and enjoy.
Spring fever always gets to me.
Every March, my thoughts start turning towards gardening and it becomes an obsession with me. I start imagining gorgeous flowers and lush greenery surrounding us in our outdoor living spaces and I feel a warmth inside of me that I cannot wait to let out. I want to go to the garden centers and browse their enormous selection of plants and I start daydreaming about what will look good placed in my gardens.
Two years ago, we put up a patio cover and suddenly our patio became a pleasant place to be. With the necessary shade on our west-facing patio, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors, and I was able to get things to grow in containers on the patio that made it a much more enjoyable place to be.
About a year ago, we pulled out a bunch of established plants in our front and back yard garden beds. Most of what we pulled were shrubs that did nothing other than sit there and be green. That’s all fine and good, but I want colorful flowers, too! So up came the shrubbery and in went roses, lilies, lavender, hydrangeas rhododendron and heavenly bamboo. Everything survived, except for one hydrangea, the rhododendron and one rose. And the survivors are flourishing, along with my previously planted confederate jasmine!
This year, I am determined to finish the front garden bed (only half-planted last year) and have been looking into shrub-like plants to plant between our yard and the neighbors’ driveway. I came up with Sweet Broom (yellow, fragrant flowers) and am giving an Azalea a try under the tree. I still need to decide what will work at the base of the tree next to the sidewalk…that area has become overrun with grass and needs to be cleaned out.
I think that I am going for a cottage look in the front of the house…the lavender that I planted next to the front door thrived and grew…I had to cut it back substantially a couple of weeks ago and can’t wait for it to start blooming with the coming warm weather. Sadly, one of my hydrangeas didn’t survive, so I went out and bought two more and planted them in front of our windows in the front of the house. Both purple roses are doing well…once everything in that bed begins to mature and expand, it will make a nice, lush garden of flowering fragrant wonder to enjoy.
In the back garden beds, I replaced the failed rose with a hibiscus. I do so love these plants and hope that this coral beauty grows and thrives. Especially since I will be able to view it from the bedroom window.
I continue to work on my annual container garden. This year, hubby helped me design a cinder-block and wooden shelving structure to place in the corner of our patio against the fence…creating a tiered unit to house a variety of plants…half of which will receive some form of sunlight, and half of which will not. I spent a few days arranging pots in an artful yet practical way, and Hubby put in a drip irrigation system for me so that everything will receive water in the coming months. This will be especially important during the baking summer months.
I spent yesterday filling pots and getting the container garden set up. I have a wonderful assortment of fuschias, begonias, impatiens, strawberries, tomatoes, English ivy, ferns, marigolds, stock annuals, columbine, dianthus, delphinium, coral bells, lobelia and a purple potato bush filling my pots and I am hoping for another resurgence for my mums. I still have pots to fill, but think that I will wait to see what else comes out at the garden centers as the season progresses.
I even tackled the small patio garden bed and put in what I hope to be permanent vines…pink jasmine. I chose them because they’re so fragrant and grow quickly…I look forward to sitting around the fire pit on the patio and basking in their scent!
I still need to find the energy to get everything mulched…that means at least one more trip to the garden center this week. And I have more pots to place and fill…I may finally tackle the empty spot at the end of the driveway, but need to look into converting the existing sprinkler into a drip system for the plans that I have in my head.
I do so love to plan and organize my little gardens. I wish that we had more space…I’d work in a vegetable garden and spend the spring and summer months tending to vegetables and herbs. Alas, that will be something for the future. In the mean time, I spend my time concentrating on the little pot of land that we have and putting together a pleasant little area for us to live in and enjoy.
Spring fever always gets to me.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
My Dirty Little Secret
I’ve got a dirty little secret…it’s something that I’ve managed to suppress for some time, but recently I gave in. It’s not really my fault…I can’t help it…I can’t control it…this is just one of those things that I cannot overcome.
I bought a Snuggie.
And it’s blue.
You can’t tell, but I’m hanging my head in shame right now.
Stop laughing. I’m a sick person.
We’ve all seen the same commercials…silly woman on the couch, fighting to free her arms so that she can reach the remote…entire families out in public at sporting events waving frantically at the camera…people playing board games…all wrapped up toasty warm in their Snuggie blankets. There’s even an idiot on the couch “raising the roof” and “cabbage patching” in his Snuggie. You almost feel sorry for his wife…until you see that she’s wearing one, too.
Here’s my excuse. I’m cold…almost all the time. Hubby and I define “comfort” as different things…he likes to be as cold as possible…I like to be so toasty that I’m on the verge of sweating. We sleep on a king sized bed with two different twin comforters…his is so thin that it is almost non-existent…mine is stuffed with down feathers. He keeps it much colder than I would prefer in the house…so I bought a Snuggie.
I had debated about the Snuggie for some time…at first making fun of them…until I realized that I’m cold all the time. I cover myself with a blanket when I’m lounging on the couch with Hubby, but when I want something from the kitchen, I have to emerge and expose myself to the cold air in the house. Brr! It was when I started taking a blanket with me to the computer that I suddenly decided that maybe I should give in. A Snuggie sure would be convenient…just stand up, wrapped in my fleece surround, and walk over to where I want to go. And because it has sleeves, I wouldn’t even have to worry about holding the blanket in place!
So after work one night, I stopped at Target. I wandered through the store and found them on the “as seen on TV” endcap…a box full of blue Snuggie goodness. Looking around me, I picked one up and made my way towards the register. I put my single purchase item on the counter and paid or my purchase. Because I didn’t bring one of my reusable bags in with me, I turned down a plastic bag at the register. Which means that the security guard had to check my receipt at the door. I swear that he muttered “Snuggie” under his breath as he waved me through the door.
When I walked in the door at home, Hubby immediately burst out in laughter when he saw what I carried in. I’m in for many, many years of being made fun of for this purchase, this I already know.
Now as I plug away on the computer at the dining room table…I no longer have to worry about freezing. I wear my wool socks, wrap myself in the Snuggie (wrapped up tight, so that my back is no longer exposed to the window behind me, allowing more cold air to sneak in and chill me) and debate whether or not I should go find some gloves to keep my fingers warm. Hubby sits on the couch laughing at me, but I don’t care…I’m warm, dammit.
I bought a Snuggie.
And it’s blue.
You can’t tell, but I’m hanging my head in shame right now.
Stop laughing. I’m a sick person.
We’ve all seen the same commercials…silly woman on the couch, fighting to free her arms so that she can reach the remote…entire families out in public at sporting events waving frantically at the camera…people playing board games…all wrapped up toasty warm in their Snuggie blankets. There’s even an idiot on the couch “raising the roof” and “cabbage patching” in his Snuggie. You almost feel sorry for his wife…until you see that she’s wearing one, too.
Here’s my excuse. I’m cold…almost all the time. Hubby and I define “comfort” as different things…he likes to be as cold as possible…I like to be so toasty that I’m on the verge of sweating. We sleep on a king sized bed with two different twin comforters…his is so thin that it is almost non-existent…mine is stuffed with down feathers. He keeps it much colder than I would prefer in the house…so I bought a Snuggie.
I had debated about the Snuggie for some time…at first making fun of them…until I realized that I’m cold all the time. I cover myself with a blanket when I’m lounging on the couch with Hubby, but when I want something from the kitchen, I have to emerge and expose myself to the cold air in the house. Brr! It was when I started taking a blanket with me to the computer that I suddenly decided that maybe I should give in. A Snuggie sure would be convenient…just stand up, wrapped in my fleece surround, and walk over to where I want to go. And because it has sleeves, I wouldn’t even have to worry about holding the blanket in place!
So after work one night, I stopped at Target. I wandered through the store and found them on the “as seen on TV” endcap…a box full of blue Snuggie goodness. Looking around me, I picked one up and made my way towards the register. I put my single purchase item on the counter and paid or my purchase. Because I didn’t bring one of my reusable bags in with me, I turned down a plastic bag at the register. Which means that the security guard had to check my receipt at the door. I swear that he muttered “Snuggie” under his breath as he waved me through the door.
When I walked in the door at home, Hubby immediately burst out in laughter when he saw what I carried in. I’m in for many, many years of being made fun of for this purchase, this I already know.
Now as I plug away on the computer at the dining room table…I no longer have to worry about freezing. I wear my wool socks, wrap myself in the Snuggie (wrapped up tight, so that my back is no longer exposed to the window behind me, allowing more cold air to sneak in and chill me) and debate whether or not I should go find some gloves to keep my fingers warm. Hubby sits on the couch laughing at me, but I don’t care…I’m warm, dammit.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Fresno: It Could Be Worse
So there is a grass roots campaign going on here in Fresno…apparently as a city we are quite a joke in the eyes of the rest of the country. Other cities look down their collective noses and sneer at us, making jokes and empowering themselves to feel far superior to our “backwoods ways.” There is a group of local Fresnans working to change all that…and they’re taking to Facebook to do it. It’s called 31 Days of Fresno, and I think that it is a pretty good idea.
Sure – living in Fresno can be a bummer sometimes. Heck, I’m getting pretty disenchanted with California as a whole lately. But really...Fresno isn’t all that bad. I’ve lived in quite a few places over the past decade, and Fresno isn’t too bad. Really!
So I plan to participate in the campaign. I’ll post something new every day in January about Fresno and why it’s not such a bad place to live. Then I’ll come back to this blog posting and update it with my daily reason as to why Fresno isn’t so bad after all.
Okay…maybe 31 reasons might be a stretch. I’ve been brainstorming and have only come up with 15 reasons so far. But as I see it, I’m almost half-way there, and that gives me two weeks to think of 16 more reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad. Stay with me…maybe I can do this after all.
1. Location, Location, Location! Fresno may not have an awful lot to offer in the immediate vicinity, but we’ve got so much to offer nearby! I’ll go into more detail in other reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad…but let’s just leave this reason at this: We’re almost in the middle of the state. That means that we’re already half-way there when we want to go somewhere else! As I see it, that’s pretty darned convenient.
2. Moderate winters. I like that we can see the snow from where we are, and should we be feeling daring and adventurous, we can go to the snow…but I don’t actually have to live in the snow. I spent some time living in Germany and it snows there. And I had to drive in it. It was not something that I relished.
3. I like the heat. As a person, I’m cold almost all the time. I spent almost five years wintering in Germany, and I don’t do well in cold climates. Sure…120 degree days during the summer might be “extreme” heat, but at least I’m not cold!
4. Big town amenities, small town atmosphere. People complain about how Fresno doesn’t have much, and you need to go to LA or San Fran to do any decent shopping. Really? As far as I’m concerned, the only thing Fresno is missing is an Ikea. And I’m not too heartbroken over that because Hubby and I really don’t need any new furniture. We’ve got plenty of great shops and restaurants here. These people just don’t appreciate them!
5. Low traffic. Anyone that has ever driven in LA log jams knows what I’m talking about. I work across town and I’m out my front door and to work in half-an-hour or less. Can many people in the “bigger and better” cities say that? Traffic jams on the freeways are few and far between (that mess at 41/180/168 notwithstanding…who the hell thought that was a good idea?? They should be shot!!) In fact, one of the first things Hubby and I noticed about Fresno when we came out here to hunt for a house was how quickly we could get around town. I’ll take that over sitting still in traffic any day. You hear me, LA??
6. Gateway to the Sierras. We’re so lucky to have the mountains nearby! It’s a crying shame that we can’t see them more often. They really are pretty spectacular, and in the winter, when it rains and the air clears, their snow-capped peaks glisten in the distance and invite you to go exploring. I like living near the mountains…I find myself taken aback when I unexpectedly catch a glimpse of them.
7. Affordable to live here…relatively speaking. The San Joaquin Valley is the most affordable place in California to live. Sadly, we’re also the most depressed during this economic downturn. But the fact remains that we have lower housing prices than anywhere else in the state, so this is a great area for people to live if they want “affordable California.” Just don’t expect the beach.
8. Low humidity. Anyone that has lived in a tropical climate can relate to me on this one. Great skin, and great hair days. Even my sister and my niece noticed the lack of humidity when they came out to visit during the summer of ’08. Although my skin cries out for the moisture, for the frizz-prone mop on top of my head, this is great!
9. We’re mere hours from the “real” big cities…LA and San Fran. So when I feel like sitting in traffic, I don’t have to drive far to do it! At only three hours or so away, both LA and San Fran offer great cultural opportunities. I’ve been to both and done the “touristy” thing, and I’m glad that I don’t have to live there. I’ve got plenty of big city amenities right here in Fresno, and I don’t have to deal with the “big city” hassles to enjoy them. But should I feel the need, I’m only a few hours away.
10. It’s not Huntsville. I spent nine months living on a military base in Huntsville, AL. I didn’t enjoy it all that much. In all honesty…I probably would feel differently if we were to live in Huntsville today. But back in 2000, I was dealing with all of the life-altering adjustments that I was going through at the time, and adding having to learn to live with the military into the mix…well, it was not the best time for me. Fresno has been waaaay better to me.
11. Earthquake-free. When we moved to California, we worried a bit about earthquakes. We’re seasoned hurricane veterans…but you can plan for hurricanes. You know days in advance that one is headed your way! Earthquakes just kinda happen as they will. Well, it turns out that the worst we can expect to experience is maybe a little vibration. Not too bad. Especially since one day California is going to split itself along the San Andreas Fault and Fresno will suddenly find itself much closer to the ocean. ;p
12. National Parks. Give me Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon! All an hour or so away. We’ve got some spectacular sights right in our back yard, and Hubby and I love getting out and seeing them as often as we can. We’ve got our annual National Parks pass and we love hiking in the parks. And we‘re so fortunate that they’re right here!!
13. We actually have a “rainy season.” Where I come from, you can count on rain almost every day, pretty much at the same time. You wouldn’t really know it by the drought that Fresno has been experiencing the past couple of years, but when we moved here in December 2005, I wondered if the rain would stop and if the sun would ever come out? This winter seems to be fairly wet, as well. I hope that it continues. I love that during the summer, spring and fall, no matter what you want to do, you know that the weather will be dry and cooperative…except for maybe the heat. It has a mind of its own, that one.
14. Culture. Yes, really...we have “culture” here. There is the cultural heritage of so many immigrant populations (I was exposed to the best Mexican food here for the first time in my life, and I had never heard of “Hmong” before moving here), and the cultural events are pretty amazing. Wine festivals, beer festivals, art festivals, music festivals, ethnic festivals…Fresno has a little bit of everything. I’m vowing to get out and see more of these great events.
15. Small-town feel. For the size of this city (California’s sixth-largest!), it is amazing how people know each other. For instance, I just recently discovered that a guy I work with is married to a girl that was on the Fresno State equestrian team with a girl that I used to work with at The City. And the guy I work with has a brother that is great friends with a guy that another girl I used to work with at The City married. What do you suppose the chances are of finding such an inter-woven connection in those “big cities?”
16. Agricultural heritage. If you eat raisins or almonds, they probably come from the Fresno area. For having such a “near-desert” climate, we’ve got some pretty darned fertile soil around these parts. The San Joaquin Valley is often called “America’s Bread Basket” because of the amount of fruits and veggies grown here. Even with all of the problems getting water to our farmers, we still manage to grow some pretty spectacular stuff.
17. Great Sports. And anyone that knows me, knows that it is *huge* that I’m saying that. Hubby and I enjoy going to the Grizzlies games (AAA!) and I’ve even found myself attending hockey and college football games. I seriously believe that my fellow Fresnans need to learn to appreciate these great opportunities…not every town has such a selection, and we’ve already lost the Falcons.
18. We’re “green.” Or as green as we can get, air quality notwithstanding. Fresno recycles…we’re one of the biggest recyclers ever! And it’s so easy to do in this city, too! Just look at how big those blue recycling bins are…just put your recyclables in there and roll it out to the curb once a week. The truck comes by and empties it out. Repeat. Admittedly, I’m not as “green” as I could be. Not absolutely everything that can go into the blue bin makes it in there. And I don’t always remember to take my reusable tote bags into the store with me. But I do try, and that has to count for something.
19. The Blossom Trail. In March and April, when all of the fruit and nut producing trees around us come into bloom, you can smell the sweet nectar of the blossoms and it is intoxicating! And to drive through the orchards and seethe vibrant blossoms hanging on the trees…mesmerizing.
20. Car Culture. Another “culture” with a different twist. We had only been out here for a few months when Hubby found local car clubs online for our Nissan & Datsun Zs. Granted, the Fresno group has not been very active (we consider ourselves the “ambassadors of Fresno” to the other Z Clubs) but every now and then people pop out of the woodwork. Sadly, with the changing of hands of Nissan of Clovis, I doubt that we’ll have our annual “Z Fest” again…sad, really…that event was a lot of fun. But Hubby has found a niche in this area, and I’ve grown to appreciate cars in a different light since my exposure to the Fresno corner of the California Car Culture. I don’t even mind going to the car shows when they roll through town.
21. We get some pretty great shows. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Rascal Flatts, Van Halen, Dave Matthews Band, Darius Rucker, Peter Frampton, the Bob and Tom Comedy Tour and the Barenaked Ladies. Hubby has been to see Tool and Metallica. They come here…we don’t have to drive hours to see them . If we were really all that po-dunk, we wouldn’t even be on their radars!
22. Christmas Tree Lane. Now granted, there are a lot of towns around that have streets that get together and decorate elaborately for the holidays, but Christmas Tree Lane is one of the finest examples I have seen. Blocks and blocks of holiday lights and displays…some outlandishly done. To see a community come together like that, to put together an annual show that is so well known that it is a tradition for so many…well, I’m hooked. We’ve driven the lane twice. This past year, we got together with friends and walked the lane. In our opinion it was a much better way to enjoy the spectacle and will be our way of celebrating the season in the future.
23. This place has forced me to get back in touch with my Southern roots. It might be the abundance of cowboy boots and big hats. Maybe it’s the fact that they consider rodeos a big thing around here. Or it could be the fact that I can drive down the freeway and admire a giant tumbleweed on the side of the road. But there is something distinctly “Western” about this place. Sure, I’ve been out of the Deep South for 10 years now, but until moving to Fresno, the places that we’ve lived with the military have been such a mix of people from so many regions, that I never really thought about “being Southern.” But the regional culture is so concentrated here, among the locals, that since moving here four years ago I’ve started to really consider what it is that makes me Southern. My cravings for BBQ, sweet tea and the way I say things like “bewh-ts” come to mind.
24. Architecture. Fresno is a town of the Old West, but it has modern twists. There are old Victorian homes, cute bungalows, and farm houses. Areas retain their old-time charm…Huntington Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue. Downtown, there is a delightful mix of old and new…restorations are in the works to preserve the buildings from an era when going downtown meant something and new buildings go in to complement the styles of existing ones.
25. We get actual seasons. Autumn, spring, summer and winter all make an appearance here. While winter is fairly cold and wet, with few freezes, spring and autumn are marked with a crispness and colorful backdrop that can’t be beat. I tend to think of spring and autumn as those brief periods when we can live with the windows open. Summer is the longest season – the show-stealer, if you will. Sometimes it feels like it is the “only” season that Fresno has.
26. Mountain sunrises, smog sunsets. As spring rolls around, Hubby and I will again be able to enjoy the sunrise over the Sierras as we leave the gym at 5:30 am. Seeing the sun peek over the mountains, capped with snow, is really a beautiful sight. And in the evenings, looking to the west, where there are more mountains that we just can’t see…the trapped smog causes the diminishing rays of the sun to light the sky with beautiful rose, orange, red and blues that create such a breathtaking sunset! Finally…something about the smog that isn’t ugly!!
27. If we want to gamble, we can. We’ve got casinos around us…so if we have the sudden desire to go blow a few dollars, or eat at a giant buffet, the opportunity is there. Granted, I’m not a big gambler. If I’m going to blow my money, I want to have something to show for it…like shoes. But if I’m in a casino, I have no problem dropping a few dollars into the penny slots. It paid big in Vegas, after all. (Ten whole dollars! That’s three trips to Starbucks!!) And Vegas is six hours away…Table Mountain and Chuckchansi are less than an hour!
28. This is where we bought our first house. Sure – it’s not a spectacular house, and we paid way too much for it at the height of the real estate boom…and we’re so far underwater on this house now that we don’t have any hope of leaving it anytime in the near future…but it is our *first* house. It is modest, and a diamond-in-the-rough, but it is *ours.* Fresno will always be the first town we started to put down roots together as a married couple, and that’s pretty darned special.
29. I adopted my dog here. It’s a pretty big coincidence that she was born the month that we found out that we were moving out here…and then, 16 months later, when I worked for The City, I happened to walk into the animal adoption center one day and there she was…surrendered by her former family. She is now a part of my heart…and I can’t imagine our lives without her. I’ll always be grateful to Fresno for bringing us together.
30. Friendships have been made – some roots have been put down. I’ve made a few really great groups of friends…from the Cool Girls/People and the Raisinettes to the Banker Bitches…I’ve got friend that I know that I can count on and a great support group. I know that after we leave Fresno and move on to the next chapter in our gypsy lives, I’ll still be in touch with my Fresno friends and our home will always be open for visits. Yes…even when we live in Orlando…the House of the Mouse.
31. The Spirit of Fresno. There are people out there in the metro of Fresno that know that Fresno has so much to offer…that Fresno can be so much more than it is…they see the potential that others don’t see. They look past the negativity and the people that say that Fresno is a joke. It is people that have this kind of vision that will make this a better place to be. And eventually, others will see Fresno as a destination in its own right. I hope that Fresno can pull it off, because there is just too much potential to let the city perish.
So there it is...31 days and 31 reasons. Amazingly, there are a few other reasons that didn't make the list. Like Tri-tip and the Doghouse Grill. Roeding park and the Chaffee Zoo. Not to mention a pretty cool dog park out there. Woodward Park and the Shin-Zen Gardens. I just don't know how those didn't make the list. There are other things ... See Morethat didn't make the list, even though I know that they are great, but only because I haven't experienced them. Like Storyland, Forestier Underground Gardens, the University. My point is that Fresno has sooo much to offer...you just need to be willing to go out and find it!
Sure – living in Fresno can be a bummer sometimes. Heck, I’m getting pretty disenchanted with California as a whole lately. But really...Fresno isn’t all that bad. I’ve lived in quite a few places over the past decade, and Fresno isn’t too bad. Really!
So I plan to participate in the campaign. I’ll post something new every day in January about Fresno and why it’s not such a bad place to live. Then I’ll come back to this blog posting and update it with my daily reason as to why Fresno isn’t so bad after all.
Okay…maybe 31 reasons might be a stretch. I’ve been brainstorming and have only come up with 15 reasons so far. But as I see it, I’m almost half-way there, and that gives me two weeks to think of 16 more reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad. Stay with me…maybe I can do this after all.
1. Location, Location, Location! Fresno may not have an awful lot to offer in the immediate vicinity, but we’ve got so much to offer nearby! I’ll go into more detail in other reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad…but let’s just leave this reason at this: We’re almost in the middle of the state. That means that we’re already half-way there when we want to go somewhere else! As I see it, that’s pretty darned convenient.
2. Moderate winters. I like that we can see the snow from where we are, and should we be feeling daring and adventurous, we can go to the snow…but I don’t actually have to live in the snow. I spent some time living in Germany and it snows there. And I had to drive in it. It was not something that I relished.
3. I like the heat. As a person, I’m cold almost all the time. I spent almost five years wintering in Germany, and I don’t do well in cold climates. Sure…120 degree days during the summer might be “extreme” heat, but at least I’m not cold!
4. Big town amenities, small town atmosphere. People complain about how Fresno doesn’t have much, and you need to go to LA or San Fran to do any decent shopping. Really? As far as I’m concerned, the only thing Fresno is missing is an Ikea. And I’m not too heartbroken over that because Hubby and I really don’t need any new furniture. We’ve got plenty of great shops and restaurants here. These people just don’t appreciate them!
5. Low traffic. Anyone that has ever driven in LA log jams knows what I’m talking about. I work across town and I’m out my front door and to work in half-an-hour or less. Can many people in the “bigger and better” cities say that? Traffic jams on the freeways are few and far between (that mess at 41/180/168 notwithstanding…who the hell thought that was a good idea?? They should be shot!!) In fact, one of the first things Hubby and I noticed about Fresno when we came out here to hunt for a house was how quickly we could get around town. I’ll take that over sitting still in traffic any day. You hear me, LA??
6. Gateway to the Sierras. We’re so lucky to have the mountains nearby! It’s a crying shame that we can’t see them more often. They really are pretty spectacular, and in the winter, when it rains and the air clears, their snow-capped peaks glisten in the distance and invite you to go exploring. I like living near the mountains…I find myself taken aback when I unexpectedly catch a glimpse of them.
7. Affordable to live here…relatively speaking. The San Joaquin Valley is the most affordable place in California to live. Sadly, we’re also the most depressed during this economic downturn. But the fact remains that we have lower housing prices than anywhere else in the state, so this is a great area for people to live if they want “affordable California.” Just don’t expect the beach.
8. Low humidity. Anyone that has lived in a tropical climate can relate to me on this one. Great skin, and great hair days. Even my sister and my niece noticed the lack of humidity when they came out to visit during the summer of ’08. Although my skin cries out for the moisture, for the frizz-prone mop on top of my head, this is great!
9. We’re mere hours from the “real” big cities…LA and San Fran. So when I feel like sitting in traffic, I don’t have to drive far to do it! At only three hours or so away, both LA and San Fran offer great cultural opportunities. I’ve been to both and done the “touristy” thing, and I’m glad that I don’t have to live there. I’ve got plenty of big city amenities right here in Fresno, and I don’t have to deal with the “big city” hassles to enjoy them. But should I feel the need, I’m only a few hours away.
10. It’s not Huntsville. I spent nine months living on a military base in Huntsville, AL. I didn’t enjoy it all that much. In all honesty…I probably would feel differently if we were to live in Huntsville today. But back in 2000, I was dealing with all of the life-altering adjustments that I was going through at the time, and adding having to learn to live with the military into the mix…well, it was not the best time for me. Fresno has been waaaay better to me.
11. Earthquake-free. When we moved to California, we worried a bit about earthquakes. We’re seasoned hurricane veterans…but you can plan for hurricanes. You know days in advance that one is headed your way! Earthquakes just kinda happen as they will. Well, it turns out that the worst we can expect to experience is maybe a little vibration. Not too bad. Especially since one day California is going to split itself along the San Andreas Fault and Fresno will suddenly find itself much closer to the ocean. ;p
12. National Parks. Give me Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon! All an hour or so away. We’ve got some spectacular sights right in our back yard, and Hubby and I love getting out and seeing them as often as we can. We’ve got our annual National Parks pass and we love hiking in the parks. And we‘re so fortunate that they’re right here!!
13. We actually have a “rainy season.” Where I come from, you can count on rain almost every day, pretty much at the same time. You wouldn’t really know it by the drought that Fresno has been experiencing the past couple of years, but when we moved here in December 2005, I wondered if the rain would stop and if the sun would ever come out? This winter seems to be fairly wet, as well. I hope that it continues. I love that during the summer, spring and fall, no matter what you want to do, you know that the weather will be dry and cooperative…except for maybe the heat. It has a mind of its own, that one.
14. Culture. Yes, really...we have “culture” here. There is the cultural heritage of so many immigrant populations (I was exposed to the best Mexican food here for the first time in my life, and I had never heard of “Hmong” before moving here), and the cultural events are pretty amazing. Wine festivals, beer festivals, art festivals, music festivals, ethnic festivals…Fresno has a little bit of everything. I’m vowing to get out and see more of these great events.
15. Small-town feel. For the size of this city (California’s sixth-largest!), it is amazing how people know each other. For instance, I just recently discovered that a guy I work with is married to a girl that was on the Fresno State equestrian team with a girl that I used to work with at The City. And the guy I work with has a brother that is great friends with a guy that another girl I used to work with at The City married. What do you suppose the chances are of finding such an inter-woven connection in those “big cities?”
16. Agricultural heritage. If you eat raisins or almonds, they probably come from the Fresno area. For having such a “near-desert” climate, we’ve got some pretty darned fertile soil around these parts. The San Joaquin Valley is often called “America’s Bread Basket” because of the amount of fruits and veggies grown here. Even with all of the problems getting water to our farmers, we still manage to grow some pretty spectacular stuff.
17. Great Sports. And anyone that knows me, knows that it is *huge* that I’m saying that. Hubby and I enjoy going to the Grizzlies games (AAA!) and I’ve even found myself attending hockey and college football games. I seriously believe that my fellow Fresnans need to learn to appreciate these great opportunities…not every town has such a selection, and we’ve already lost the Falcons.
18. We’re “green.” Or as green as we can get, air quality notwithstanding. Fresno recycles…we’re one of the biggest recyclers ever! And it’s so easy to do in this city, too! Just look at how big those blue recycling bins are…just put your recyclables in there and roll it out to the curb once a week. The truck comes by and empties it out. Repeat. Admittedly, I’m not as “green” as I could be. Not absolutely everything that can go into the blue bin makes it in there. And I don’t always remember to take my reusable tote bags into the store with me. But I do try, and that has to count for something.
19. The Blossom Trail. In March and April, when all of the fruit and nut producing trees around us come into bloom, you can smell the sweet nectar of the blossoms and it is intoxicating! And to drive through the orchards and seethe vibrant blossoms hanging on the trees…mesmerizing.
20. Car Culture. Another “culture” with a different twist. We had only been out here for a few months when Hubby found local car clubs online for our Nissan & Datsun Zs. Granted, the Fresno group has not been very active (we consider ourselves the “ambassadors of Fresno” to the other Z Clubs) but every now and then people pop out of the woodwork. Sadly, with the changing of hands of Nissan of Clovis, I doubt that we’ll have our annual “Z Fest” again…sad, really…that event was a lot of fun. But Hubby has found a niche in this area, and I’ve grown to appreciate cars in a different light since my exposure to the Fresno corner of the California Car Culture. I don’t even mind going to the car shows when they roll through town.
21. We get some pretty great shows. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Rascal Flatts, Van Halen, Dave Matthews Band, Darius Rucker, Peter Frampton, the Bob and Tom Comedy Tour and the Barenaked Ladies. Hubby has been to see Tool and Metallica. They come here…we don’t have to drive hours to see them . If we were really all that po-dunk, we wouldn’t even be on their radars!
22. Christmas Tree Lane. Now granted, there are a lot of towns around that have streets that get together and decorate elaborately for the holidays, but Christmas Tree Lane is one of the finest examples I have seen. Blocks and blocks of holiday lights and displays…some outlandishly done. To see a community come together like that, to put together an annual show that is so well known that it is a tradition for so many…well, I’m hooked. We’ve driven the lane twice. This past year, we got together with friends and walked the lane. In our opinion it was a much better way to enjoy the spectacle and will be our way of celebrating the season in the future.
23. This place has forced me to get back in touch with my Southern roots. It might be the abundance of cowboy boots and big hats. Maybe it’s the fact that they consider rodeos a big thing around here. Or it could be the fact that I can drive down the freeway and admire a giant tumbleweed on the side of the road. But there is something distinctly “Western” about this place. Sure, I’ve been out of the Deep South for 10 years now, but until moving to Fresno, the places that we’ve lived with the military have been such a mix of people from so many regions, that I never really thought about “being Southern.” But the regional culture is so concentrated here, among the locals, that since moving here four years ago I’ve started to really consider what it is that makes me Southern. My cravings for BBQ, sweet tea and the way I say things like “bewh-ts” come to mind.
24. Architecture. Fresno is a town of the Old West, but it has modern twists. There are old Victorian homes, cute bungalows, and farm houses. Areas retain their old-time charm…Huntington Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue. Downtown, there is a delightful mix of old and new…restorations are in the works to preserve the buildings from an era when going downtown meant something and new buildings go in to complement the styles of existing ones.
25. We get actual seasons. Autumn, spring, summer and winter all make an appearance here. While winter is fairly cold and wet, with few freezes, spring and autumn are marked with a crispness and colorful backdrop that can’t be beat. I tend to think of spring and autumn as those brief periods when we can live with the windows open. Summer is the longest season – the show-stealer, if you will. Sometimes it feels like it is the “only” season that Fresno has.
26. Mountain sunrises, smog sunsets. As spring rolls around, Hubby and I will again be able to enjoy the sunrise over the Sierras as we leave the gym at 5:30 am. Seeing the sun peek over the mountains, capped with snow, is really a beautiful sight. And in the evenings, looking to the west, where there are more mountains that we just can’t see…the trapped smog causes the diminishing rays of the sun to light the sky with beautiful rose, orange, red and blues that create such a breathtaking sunset! Finally…something about the smog that isn’t ugly!!
27. If we want to gamble, we can. We’ve got casinos around us…so if we have the sudden desire to go blow a few dollars, or eat at a giant buffet, the opportunity is there. Granted, I’m not a big gambler. If I’m going to blow my money, I want to have something to show for it…like shoes. But if I’m in a casino, I have no problem dropping a few dollars into the penny slots. It paid big in Vegas, after all. (Ten whole dollars! That’s three trips to Starbucks!!) And Vegas is six hours away…Table Mountain and Chuckchansi are less than an hour!
28. This is where we bought our first house. Sure – it’s not a spectacular house, and we paid way too much for it at the height of the real estate boom…and we’re so far underwater on this house now that we don’t have any hope of leaving it anytime in the near future…but it is our *first* house. It is modest, and a diamond-in-the-rough, but it is *ours.* Fresno will always be the first town we started to put down roots together as a married couple, and that’s pretty darned special.
29. I adopted my dog here. It’s a pretty big coincidence that she was born the month that we found out that we were moving out here…and then, 16 months later, when I worked for The City, I happened to walk into the animal adoption center one day and there she was…surrendered by her former family. She is now a part of my heart…and I can’t imagine our lives without her. I’ll always be grateful to Fresno for bringing us together.
30. Friendships have been made – some roots have been put down. I’ve made a few really great groups of friends…from the Cool Girls/People and the Raisinettes to the Banker Bitches…I’ve got friend that I know that I can count on and a great support group. I know that after we leave Fresno and move on to the next chapter in our gypsy lives, I’ll still be in touch with my Fresno friends and our home will always be open for visits. Yes…even when we live in Orlando…the House of the Mouse.
31. The Spirit of Fresno. There are people out there in the metro of Fresno that know that Fresno has so much to offer…that Fresno can be so much more than it is…they see the potential that others don’t see. They look past the negativity and the people that say that Fresno is a joke. It is people that have this kind of vision that will make this a better place to be. And eventually, others will see Fresno as a destination in its own right. I hope that Fresno can pull it off, because there is just too much potential to let the city perish.
So there it is...31 days and 31 reasons. Amazingly, there are a few other reasons that didn't make the list. Like Tri-tip and the Doghouse Grill. Roeding park and the Chaffee Zoo. Not to mention a pretty cool dog park out there. Woodward Park and the Shin-Zen Gardens. I just don't know how those didn't make the list. There are other things ... See Morethat didn't make the list, even though I know that they are great, but only because I haven't experienced them. Like Storyland, Forestier Underground Gardens, the University. My point is that Fresno has sooo much to offer...you just need to be willing to go out and find it!
Working On Me
I’ve been slacking all year. I stopped blogging and sharing photos, and I’m not happy about that.
I guess that I have had some issues to work out.
The last half of 2008 was not so kind to me. It started with my unexpected…well…firing from my job at The City. I can see now that that was a big blow to me. Kinda funny, though, because now I can look back and see how absolutely awful that job was. I think that deep down I may have known how bad that place was for me; however, at the time I was determined to stick with it and see my job through. Foolish of me, really.
The worst thing to have come from that, though, was the blow to my self-confidence. I had failed at something, and failed in such a way that it could have had a serious impact on both myself and my husband. What if we couldn’t pay the bills? What then?
Fortunately, I spent less than a month unemployed. I was picked up by Willy Wonka’s Raisin Factory in a nearby town and temped for them for almost four months before they hired me. I was so grateful for a job that I didn’t mind working 50 hour work weeks. I must have been doing something right, because they gave me a raise before they hired me. Finally, a boost to my bruised self esteem!
2009 started out in an unassuming manner – I had been hired on full-time at Willy Wonka’s and was content. The benefits weren’t what I had become accustomed to, but then again not every job could be as good as a federal or municipal position, right? And then out-of-the-blue I received a phone call from The Bank, where I had worked before leaving to go work for The City. My old position was coming open and my old manager was interested in talking to me about coming back.
There was suddenly a light shining down upon me. Another big boost to my self esteem! It was a heart-wrenching decision to leave Willy Wonka’s and the family I had gained there, but it was a decision to be made.
I’ve spent the past year back with my old co-workers at The Bank. I slipped right into the fold again and have rolled with some pretty unsettling changes…staying busier than I was promised and taking on quite a bit more responsibility than I had anticipated when I went back. It has been a challenge that I think I have risen to well. And my self esteem has recovered quite a bit.
In retrospect, while sorting out my issues and licking my wounds, I can see that I’m not so bad after all. Looking around at the economic climate of the time, to have been unemployed for less than a month was pretty amazing. To receive a substantial raise by the company that I was temping for before they even hired me was pretty outstanding. And to be hired back by The Bank, whom I left to go to work The City, where I would eventually be fired…well, I think that that alone speaks volumes. I really don’t think that the problem at The City was me.
I don’t think that I am back to where I was before. I’ve stopped cringing when the phone rings, but I still find myself facing a sense of dread that I’m not doing a good enough job. Which is really silly of me…there have been no indications at all over the course of the past year that I haven’t been doing well. But that sense is still there…it is probably something that I will carry with me for a long time…all as a result of the time I spent working under Boss Lady (who has since been renamed something really not appropriate for public forums.) So I’ve still got some issues to resolve, but I’m working on them.
So 2009 was a better year for me than 2008, and I’m looking forward to 2010. This year, I resolve to blog more and start sharing photos and accounts of our adventures and explorations together. In fact, I plan to spend this weekend getting our photo collection caught up on Shutterfly. We really did go places in 2009, and I’ve got the proof on my computer. And I’m already brainstorming new blog ideas for posting.
Stick with me…it’ll get better. It already has.
I guess that I have had some issues to work out.
The last half of 2008 was not so kind to me. It started with my unexpected…well…firing from my job at The City. I can see now that that was a big blow to me. Kinda funny, though, because now I can look back and see how absolutely awful that job was. I think that deep down I may have known how bad that place was for me; however, at the time I was determined to stick with it and see my job through. Foolish of me, really.
The worst thing to have come from that, though, was the blow to my self-confidence. I had failed at something, and failed in such a way that it could have had a serious impact on both myself and my husband. What if we couldn’t pay the bills? What then?
Fortunately, I spent less than a month unemployed. I was picked up by Willy Wonka’s Raisin Factory in a nearby town and temped for them for almost four months before they hired me. I was so grateful for a job that I didn’t mind working 50 hour work weeks. I must have been doing something right, because they gave me a raise before they hired me. Finally, a boost to my bruised self esteem!
2009 started out in an unassuming manner – I had been hired on full-time at Willy Wonka’s and was content. The benefits weren’t what I had become accustomed to, but then again not every job could be as good as a federal or municipal position, right? And then out-of-the-blue I received a phone call from The Bank, where I had worked before leaving to go work for The City. My old position was coming open and my old manager was interested in talking to me about coming back.
There was suddenly a light shining down upon me. Another big boost to my self esteem! It was a heart-wrenching decision to leave Willy Wonka’s and the family I had gained there, but it was a decision to be made.
I’ve spent the past year back with my old co-workers at The Bank. I slipped right into the fold again and have rolled with some pretty unsettling changes…staying busier than I was promised and taking on quite a bit more responsibility than I had anticipated when I went back. It has been a challenge that I think I have risen to well. And my self esteem has recovered quite a bit.
In retrospect, while sorting out my issues and licking my wounds, I can see that I’m not so bad after all. Looking around at the economic climate of the time, to have been unemployed for less than a month was pretty amazing. To receive a substantial raise by the company that I was temping for before they even hired me was pretty outstanding. And to be hired back by The Bank, whom I left to go to work The City, where I would eventually be fired…well, I think that that alone speaks volumes. I really don’t think that the problem at The City was me.
I don’t think that I am back to where I was before. I’ve stopped cringing when the phone rings, but I still find myself facing a sense of dread that I’m not doing a good enough job. Which is really silly of me…there have been no indications at all over the course of the past year that I haven’t been doing well. But that sense is still there…it is probably something that I will carry with me for a long time…all as a result of the time I spent working under Boss Lady (who has since been renamed something really not appropriate for public forums.) So I’ve still got some issues to resolve, but I’m working on them.
So 2009 was a better year for me than 2008, and I’m looking forward to 2010. This year, I resolve to blog more and start sharing photos and accounts of our adventures and explorations together. In fact, I plan to spend this weekend getting our photo collection caught up on Shutterfly. We really did go places in 2009, and I’ve got the proof on my computer. And I’m already brainstorming new blog ideas for posting.
Stick with me…it’ll get better. It already has.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Spring Beginnings
I've added quite a few photos to See. Experience. Explore!
Lots of updates to the Garden Gnoming 2009 section - my garden continues to thrive and shower me with blooms. I've got a nest of baby birdies in the privet shrub in my back yard! They come with a very defensive momma bird that has her eye on me every time I step out into the back yard to tend to my plants. She even flew into the house through an open window on Saturday! Fortunately, i was able to safely remove her and put her back outside.
The Car-azy section houses photos from our trip to Los Angeles for the annual Motorsport Auto West Coast Z Car Nationals. Another year of awesome cars on display - it is the largest gathering of Zs in the world! this year saw comfortable temperatures - a welcome change from the excessive heat of last year.
Also in the Car-azy section are photos from Nissan of Clovis and Central Valley Z's fifth annual Z fest. It is the large, local show for Z Cars - about 80 entries this year. Mike and I ran the registration table, and I got to be a guest emcee and the trophy girl this year! Sadie spent the day with us, helping to keep watch over the raffle prizes. Of course, she stole the show and made a ton of new friends.
In the Journeys section, photos from our day trip to Yosemite National Park are displayed. We took yesterday and decided to spend the day in the park and hike down to Mirror Lake to try to catch this seasonal beauty. It was a pleasant day, even with all the crowds that we had to deal with. We've made a mental note not to head back to the parks on holiday weekends.
Enjoy!
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com/
Lots of updates to the Garden Gnoming 2009 section - my garden continues to thrive and shower me with blooms. I've got a nest of baby birdies in the privet shrub in my back yard! They come with a very defensive momma bird that has her eye on me every time I step out into the back yard to tend to my plants. She even flew into the house through an open window on Saturday! Fortunately, i was able to safely remove her and put her back outside.
The Car-azy section houses photos from our trip to Los Angeles for the annual Motorsport Auto West Coast Z Car Nationals. Another year of awesome cars on display - it is the largest gathering of Zs in the world! this year saw comfortable temperatures - a welcome change from the excessive heat of last year.
Also in the Car-azy section are photos from Nissan of Clovis and Central Valley Z's fifth annual Z fest. It is the large, local show for Z Cars - about 80 entries this year. Mike and I ran the registration table, and I got to be a guest emcee and the trophy girl this year! Sadie spent the day with us, helping to keep watch over the raffle prizes. Of course, she stole the show and made a ton of new friends.
In the Journeys section, photos from our day trip to Yosemite National Park are displayed. We took yesterday and decided to spend the day in the park and hike down to Mirror Lake to try to catch this seasonal beauty. It was a pleasant day, even with all the crowds that we had to deal with. We've made a mental note not to head back to the parks on holiday weekends.
Enjoy!
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com/
Friday, March 20, 2009
Home Improvement
I love our house.
Hubby and I have been in our twenty-year-old house for three years now. We’ve worked hard to make it a home, and we’ve succeeded. Every day, I look around our home and think about how content I am to be living here at this point in my life.
Never mind the fact that our house has plummeted in value since we purchased it at the height of the housing boom…we’re here now and we’re here for the foreseeable future. So we’re taking this opportunity to take our basic house and make it something more…along the way taking an opportunity to build up our DIY skills. (They make it look so easy on TV!)
This house has had very few, if any, upgrades done to it since the day it was built. When we moved in, it looked like the only improvements were ceiling fans in the bedrooms, fresh interior paint and new carpet.
Since taking ownership of this house, we’ve made some improvements here and there, and have learned some valuable lessons along the way. The number one lesson being that they might make it look so easy on TV…but it is generally not so.
We’ve painted all of the rooms in the house and replaced the original light fixtures in the hallway, foyer and both bathrooms with more modern fixtures. That is about the extent of the “easy” projects.
From that point on, all the plans that I had that seemed so simple just turned out to be darned near impossible.
I thought that we should pull the plain mirror off the bathroom wall and purchase a beautiful mirrored medicine cabinet for our master bath, along with putting in a beautiful metal and alabaster light fixture. Turns out that to sink the medicine cabinet into the wall, we’d have to pull permits and hire someone to do it, since the cabinet would go into an exterior wall and thus cause issues with supporting the structure of the house. So we just hung the cabinet on the wall, and Hubby had to build a box to bring the light out from the wall so that it would hang over the cabinet as it should.
I thought that the closet doors to my closet were big and bulky. Why would anyone want sliders when bifolds are so much prettier and functional? Turns out that my closet door opening isn’t a standard size for accommodating bifolds. I can order custom doors, or rip out the framing around my closet opening and rebuild it to accommodate the standard doors that are available at home improvement centers. I just hung up a curtain and called it a day.
I thought that we should replace the light over the sink in the kitchen. Turns out that once Hubby pulled out the old light fixture, he discovered that the light box wasn’t secure…it was actually wiggling on its support that wasn’t fastened to the joists correctly. So he had to tear into the ceiling and fix the support, and then repair and retexture that section of the ceiling.
I thought that we should get an alarm on the house. Turns out that during installation, the technician drilled through a wire that caused our outside patio light to stop working. Two years later, Hubby looks into fixing the patio light and has to rip part of an interior wall and ceiling out to solve the problem.
I thought that it was amazing that our house had survived almost twenty years without an overhead light fixture in the living room. The open plan allowed the room to “borrow” light from the kitchen, dining room and hallway/foyer, but the room itself was still cave-like. So I bought a ceiling fan with a light and Hubby went about installing it. Turns out Hubby had to rip back into the recently repaired dining room ceiling to install a junction box to run power to the fan. He has yet to match the popcorn pattern on the ceiling.
I thought that the wall paper in the hall bath was ugly. Surely pink and purple floral wallpaper was never really in style, right? It would seem so simple to pull the wall paper down to remodel the room. Turns out that the wallpaper was original to the house and the builders didn’t prime the walls before pasting the paper up. Thus, when we pulled the paper down, the drywall came with it. We had to pull down the wall itself to get rid of the wall paper! And when it came time to tile the floor, it seemed to be not so perfectly level. And pulling out the old countertop did some damage to the remaining wall. And I thought that we could keep the old vanity, paint it and reuse it with the new countertop that I bought for the remodel. Except that the sink wasn’t positioned in such a way that the vanity would work so we wound up buying a new one anyway. And my grand plans for crown molding seem to have hit a snag thanks to non plumb ceilings. (Thankfully Home Depot is offering a class on installing molding tomorrow…we’ll be there!) I think that there may have also been issues in putting up the wainscoting that caused Hubby to declare that the room wasn’t perfectly squared.
I thought that a nice black and silver plaque to display our house number might look nice in front of the garage. The house numbers that are original to the house are on the eaves of the house and are now hidden by Italian Cypress Trees that were planted in front of them. Turns out that our house is made of some sort of fake stucco that is stuck to Styrofoam (yes, apparently I live in a Styrofoam house, but I can get away with that as there are no hurricanes here to blow the house away!) and now we have to devise some sort of elaborate plans to get the numbers to stick to the house, since anchors won’t anchor to the vast nothingness that is behind the fake stucco that makes up our house.
You think that we would learn a very important lesson from all of these experiences. Sadly, we keep trudging along.
This weekend is the beginning of the master bath renovation. We’ll be pulling out the vanity and countertop (watch out, walls!) and painting in preparation for tile and a new vanity and countertop. We have already established that we will have to make a couple of minor alterations to the new vanity to accommodate the existing plumbing. Hopefully that will be the worst of the renovation.
This summer…new kitchen, foyer and dining room floors, along with removal both patterns of popcorn on the dining room ceiling. Shortly thereafter, new countertops in the kitchen. And after that, we’ll reface the kitchen cabinets ourselves.
We’re just setting ourselves up for new challenges. But we won’t accept failure.
We’re going to be living in this house for awhile yet…and I want to get all of these projects done with plenty of time for us to enjoy the results. This is, after all, our home.
Hubby and I have been in our twenty-year-old house for three years now. We’ve worked hard to make it a home, and we’ve succeeded. Every day, I look around our home and think about how content I am to be living here at this point in my life.
Never mind the fact that our house has plummeted in value since we purchased it at the height of the housing boom…we’re here now and we’re here for the foreseeable future. So we’re taking this opportunity to take our basic house and make it something more…along the way taking an opportunity to build up our DIY skills. (They make it look so easy on TV!)
This house has had very few, if any, upgrades done to it since the day it was built. When we moved in, it looked like the only improvements were ceiling fans in the bedrooms, fresh interior paint and new carpet.
Since taking ownership of this house, we’ve made some improvements here and there, and have learned some valuable lessons along the way. The number one lesson being that they might make it look so easy on TV…but it is generally not so.
We’ve painted all of the rooms in the house and replaced the original light fixtures in the hallway, foyer and both bathrooms with more modern fixtures. That is about the extent of the “easy” projects.
From that point on, all the plans that I had that seemed so simple just turned out to be darned near impossible.
I thought that we should pull the plain mirror off the bathroom wall and purchase a beautiful mirrored medicine cabinet for our master bath, along with putting in a beautiful metal and alabaster light fixture. Turns out that to sink the medicine cabinet into the wall, we’d have to pull permits and hire someone to do it, since the cabinet would go into an exterior wall and thus cause issues with supporting the structure of the house. So we just hung the cabinet on the wall, and Hubby had to build a box to bring the light out from the wall so that it would hang over the cabinet as it should.
I thought that the closet doors to my closet were big and bulky. Why would anyone want sliders when bifolds are so much prettier and functional? Turns out that my closet door opening isn’t a standard size for accommodating bifolds. I can order custom doors, or rip out the framing around my closet opening and rebuild it to accommodate the standard doors that are available at home improvement centers. I just hung up a curtain and called it a day.
I thought that we should replace the light over the sink in the kitchen. Turns out that once Hubby pulled out the old light fixture, he discovered that the light box wasn’t secure…it was actually wiggling on its support that wasn’t fastened to the joists correctly. So he had to tear into the ceiling and fix the support, and then repair and retexture that section of the ceiling.
I thought that we should get an alarm on the house. Turns out that during installation, the technician drilled through a wire that caused our outside patio light to stop working. Two years later, Hubby looks into fixing the patio light and has to rip part of an interior wall and ceiling out to solve the problem.
I thought that it was amazing that our house had survived almost twenty years without an overhead light fixture in the living room. The open plan allowed the room to “borrow” light from the kitchen, dining room and hallway/foyer, but the room itself was still cave-like. So I bought a ceiling fan with a light and Hubby went about installing it. Turns out Hubby had to rip back into the recently repaired dining room ceiling to install a junction box to run power to the fan. He has yet to match the popcorn pattern on the ceiling.
I thought that the wall paper in the hall bath was ugly. Surely pink and purple floral wallpaper was never really in style, right? It would seem so simple to pull the wall paper down to remodel the room. Turns out that the wallpaper was original to the house and the builders didn’t prime the walls before pasting the paper up. Thus, when we pulled the paper down, the drywall came with it. We had to pull down the wall itself to get rid of the wall paper! And when it came time to tile the floor, it seemed to be not so perfectly level. And pulling out the old countertop did some damage to the remaining wall. And I thought that we could keep the old vanity, paint it and reuse it with the new countertop that I bought for the remodel. Except that the sink wasn’t positioned in such a way that the vanity would work so we wound up buying a new one anyway. And my grand plans for crown molding seem to have hit a snag thanks to non plumb ceilings. (Thankfully Home Depot is offering a class on installing molding tomorrow…we’ll be there!) I think that there may have also been issues in putting up the wainscoting that caused Hubby to declare that the room wasn’t perfectly squared.
I thought that a nice black and silver plaque to display our house number might look nice in front of the garage. The house numbers that are original to the house are on the eaves of the house and are now hidden by Italian Cypress Trees that were planted in front of them. Turns out that our house is made of some sort of fake stucco that is stuck to Styrofoam (yes, apparently I live in a Styrofoam house, but I can get away with that as there are no hurricanes here to blow the house away!) and now we have to devise some sort of elaborate plans to get the numbers to stick to the house, since anchors won’t anchor to the vast nothingness that is behind the fake stucco that makes up our house.
You think that we would learn a very important lesson from all of these experiences. Sadly, we keep trudging along.
This weekend is the beginning of the master bath renovation. We’ll be pulling out the vanity and countertop (watch out, walls!) and painting in preparation for tile and a new vanity and countertop. We have already established that we will have to make a couple of minor alterations to the new vanity to accommodate the existing plumbing. Hopefully that will be the worst of the renovation.
This summer…new kitchen, foyer and dining room floors, along with removal both patterns of popcorn on the dining room ceiling. Shortly thereafter, new countertops in the kitchen. And after that, we’ll reface the kitchen cabinets ourselves.
We’re just setting ourselves up for new challenges. But we won’t accept failure.
We’re going to be living in this house for awhile yet…and I want to get all of these projects done with plenty of time for us to enjoy the results. This is, after all, our home.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Winter Endings
Well, I've got all of our photos posted and captioned, so I'm caught up there. Until I finally get around to converting all of our negatives to digital format, that is!
As 2009 progresses, we're concentrating mainly on the house and sprinkling in a few trips here and there. We've already kicked off the year with a weekend to Hearst Castle on the California Coast and are looking forward to a trip down to LA for the Annual West Coast Nationals for the Z at the end of April.
Spring is rolling in, and we're taking advantage of the gorgeous weather to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. We're also planning on beating the heat of summer and establishing the gardens quickly!
The yards and gardens are almost complete. I estimate that there is one more day of work to put into the front flower beds and then it'll just be maintaining the plants. We've got to finish disposing of the old shrubs (the yard waste bins only hold so much!), repair two sprinkler heads and then I can plant. I'm planning on two blue salvias between the Azalea and the tree, and maybe another rose between the tree and the front sidewalk. More newspaper weed barrier, of course, and mulch. Then I'll fill the very front of the bed with colorful annuals that I can change out with the seasons.
I am very pleased with the progress of the back yard! Hopefully we'll be able to walk back there in three weeks or so. We'll overseed with grass seed to fill in the blanks and finally be able to move the gardening equipment off of the patio and back into the shed. All of the plants in the back flower beds seem to be doing really well, but the summer heat will be the true test. Hopefully everything will survive and we can move on to the maintenance stages back there. (I haven't forgotten to take photos of the Touch of Class Everblooming Hybrid...I just can't get to it without walking on the grass. But I can see it from my bedroom window, and it is doing magnificently!)
My container garden is an ever-evolving project. As time and budget permit, I will go back to experimenting and expanding this little patio oasis (made possible by last year's purchase of the patio cover!) I intend to bring back the delphinium and other pretty flowers, and now they'll stand a chance back there because of the cooling shade that we finally have. I also intend to add a small table-top fountain and nestle it in with the plants for added serenity.
We're also looking at the inside of the house. The hall bath is so close to being completed - just needs trim, caulking and finishing paint. I need to change out the existing blue - it's too turquoise! I've chosen a calm sky blue and will change that out once the trim is complete.
My attention is turning to the master bath. I've purchased the calming beige paint, new vanity, new faucet, tile, bath mats and we've already installed the new toilet seat. Once I have the new counter top (next weekend!) we can begin demolition and remodel. I may change out the accessories and towels over time.
Sitting in the back of my mind is the kitchen. Hopefully we'll have that done by the end of the year. Budget constraints will make it a multi-stage project. Paint, countertops, backsplash and sink first. Then cabinets. Then the floor. (Or maybe floors, then cabinets...I'm flexible on that!) Then finishing touches - like a new light fixture. All with time and patience, and a little bit of elbow grease.
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com
As 2009 progresses, we're concentrating mainly on the house and sprinkling in a few trips here and there. We've already kicked off the year with a weekend to Hearst Castle on the California Coast and are looking forward to a trip down to LA for the Annual West Coast Nationals for the Z at the end of April.
Spring is rolling in, and we're taking advantage of the gorgeous weather to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. We're also planning on beating the heat of summer and establishing the gardens quickly!
The yards and gardens are almost complete. I estimate that there is one more day of work to put into the front flower beds and then it'll just be maintaining the plants. We've got to finish disposing of the old shrubs (the yard waste bins only hold so much!), repair two sprinkler heads and then I can plant. I'm planning on two blue salvias between the Azalea and the tree, and maybe another rose between the tree and the front sidewalk. More newspaper weed barrier, of course, and mulch. Then I'll fill the very front of the bed with colorful annuals that I can change out with the seasons.
I am very pleased with the progress of the back yard! Hopefully we'll be able to walk back there in three weeks or so. We'll overseed with grass seed to fill in the blanks and finally be able to move the gardening equipment off of the patio and back into the shed. All of the plants in the back flower beds seem to be doing really well, but the summer heat will be the true test. Hopefully everything will survive and we can move on to the maintenance stages back there. (I haven't forgotten to take photos of the Touch of Class Everblooming Hybrid...I just can't get to it without walking on the grass. But I can see it from my bedroom window, and it is doing magnificently!)
My container garden is an ever-evolving project. As time and budget permit, I will go back to experimenting and expanding this little patio oasis (made possible by last year's purchase of the patio cover!) I intend to bring back the delphinium and other pretty flowers, and now they'll stand a chance back there because of the cooling shade that we finally have. I also intend to add a small table-top fountain and nestle it in with the plants for added serenity.
We're also looking at the inside of the house. The hall bath is so close to being completed - just needs trim, caulking and finishing paint. I need to change out the existing blue - it's too turquoise! I've chosen a calm sky blue and will change that out once the trim is complete.
My attention is turning to the master bath. I've purchased the calming beige paint, new vanity, new faucet, tile, bath mats and we've already installed the new toilet seat. Once I have the new counter top (next weekend!) we can begin demolition and remodel. I may change out the accessories and towels over time.
Sitting in the back of my mind is the kitchen. Hopefully we'll have that done by the end of the year. Budget constraints will make it a multi-stage project. Paint, countertops, backsplash and sink first. Then cabinets. Then the floor. (Or maybe floors, then cabinets...I'm flexible on that!) Then finishing touches - like a new light fixture. All with time and patience, and a little bit of elbow grease.
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com
Friday, March 6, 2009
Getting Caught Up On Some Things
Holy crow! I didn't realize quite how far behind I had gotten on cataloging and captioning our photos!
I put some work into it and am caught up through the end of 2008! Check for new albums in the "Photos 2008" and "Car-azy" sections. (Keep your eyes open for Mike autocrossing in the white Z!) I also found photos from our trip to Catalina in 2007, so check that out, too.
I'll also be adding photos to the "2009" album in the gardening section, and to the two bathroom renovation albums as we finish up the hall bath and kick off the master bath renovation. Keep checking back to see how those projects go!
Now I just need to get 2009 captioned and added and I'll be caught up! Let's hope I do that before I get too far behind. Again.
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com/
I put some work into it and am caught up through the end of 2008! Check for new albums in the "Photos 2008" and "Car-azy" sections. (Keep your eyes open for Mike autocrossing in the white Z!) I also found photos from our trip to Catalina in 2007, so check that out, too.
I'll also be adding photos to the "2009" album in the gardening section, and to the two bathroom renovation albums as we finish up the hall bath and kick off the master bath renovation. Keep checking back to see how those projects go!
Now I just need to get 2009 captioned and added and I'll be caught up! Let's hope I do that before I get too far behind. Again.
http://seeexperienceexplore.shutterfly.com/
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Deja Vu
I’ve noticed a pattern lately – events in my current life seem to be reflecting and magnifying my recent past. Only this is happening in ways that are better than before.
When Hubby and I first moved out to California, I found myself returning to the banking industry and spent a year as a banking assistant in a lending department. The position held no glamour. It had no excitement. I spent my days filing, archiving and making copies. Not exactly a challenge to me. After a year of living this existence, I branched out to another employment opportunity that I thought would be a better move for me…back into government employ, although this would be my first foray into localized government.
Well, we all know how that worked out for me. I took quite a beating for a year and a half and found my confidence in myself to be much less than what it was before. For the first time in my life, I had doubts about myself and my abilities. I couldn’t quite bring myself to feel secure in anything that I did. I no longer felt confident when conferring with supervisors. I often worried about whether or not I was performing to expectations. I began allowing myself to suffer - always putting the needs of others before me and never accomplishing anything for myself. It was to the point that whenever anyone asked me to do anything, I would immediately stop what I was doing and work on the new task - never feeling a sense of accomplishment for anything and always feeling the pressure of that backlog of tasks waiting for me to return.
This summer, forced into unemployment, I found myself working in an accounting department in an effort to make ends meet and continue to live a comfortable life. Like my prior stint in the world of accounting (as an accounts payable clerk for a roofing company – term of employment was one month), the pay wasn’t exactly what I was accustomed to, but it was enough to live on. And I really liked the job, the environment and the people that I was working with. Sure – I was working 54-hour workweeks. But I was among like-minded people. We had fun together and the time flew by. I found myself beginning to rebuild my former self – the confidence and ease were returning. But like before, the experience was to be short lived.
A couple of weeks ago, totally out-of-the-blue, I was contacted by a former coworker of mine from the bank. My old position was opening up again, and my former manager was interested in talking to me about coming back to a beefed-up position with higher pay.
I was absolutely floored. I did not go seeking this opportunity – I had already decided that I liked where I was and would be able to live with the downscaled benefits and longer days. However, I was intrigued. I met with my former manager and we discussed the “new” job. It certainly sounded better than before and she and the rest of the staff were glad to see me when I came through the door.
The offer came through and I spent time agonizing over the decisions. The benefits would be so much better, the pay equal to what I brought home working for The City…oh, and to return to a 40-hour workweek! But I loved my current job – the days passed quickly (all six of them each week!) and I really enjoyed bantering with the people that I worked with. It was a heart-wrenching decision, but in the end I decided on a return to my past.
This week, I will return to the life of banking. I feel confident that I will be able to meet the challenges that will be laid before me. I’ll be learning new duties and have the opportunity to once again prove myself to be successful.
I will overcome the emotional damage that I sustained in my prior job. I will rebuild my confidence. I will prove myself. I will be a success.
When Hubby and I first moved out to California, I found myself returning to the banking industry and spent a year as a banking assistant in a lending department. The position held no glamour. It had no excitement. I spent my days filing, archiving and making copies. Not exactly a challenge to me. After a year of living this existence, I branched out to another employment opportunity that I thought would be a better move for me…back into government employ, although this would be my first foray into localized government.
Well, we all know how that worked out for me. I took quite a beating for a year and a half and found my confidence in myself to be much less than what it was before. For the first time in my life, I had doubts about myself and my abilities. I couldn’t quite bring myself to feel secure in anything that I did. I no longer felt confident when conferring with supervisors. I often worried about whether or not I was performing to expectations. I began allowing myself to suffer - always putting the needs of others before me and never accomplishing anything for myself. It was to the point that whenever anyone asked me to do anything, I would immediately stop what I was doing and work on the new task - never feeling a sense of accomplishment for anything and always feeling the pressure of that backlog of tasks waiting for me to return.
This summer, forced into unemployment, I found myself working in an accounting department in an effort to make ends meet and continue to live a comfortable life. Like my prior stint in the world of accounting (as an accounts payable clerk for a roofing company – term of employment was one month), the pay wasn’t exactly what I was accustomed to, but it was enough to live on. And I really liked the job, the environment and the people that I was working with. Sure – I was working 54-hour workweeks. But I was among like-minded people. We had fun together and the time flew by. I found myself beginning to rebuild my former self – the confidence and ease were returning. But like before, the experience was to be short lived.
A couple of weeks ago, totally out-of-the-blue, I was contacted by a former coworker of mine from the bank. My old position was opening up again, and my former manager was interested in talking to me about coming back to a beefed-up position with higher pay.
I was absolutely floored. I did not go seeking this opportunity – I had already decided that I liked where I was and would be able to live with the downscaled benefits and longer days. However, I was intrigued. I met with my former manager and we discussed the “new” job. It certainly sounded better than before and she and the rest of the staff were glad to see me when I came through the door.
The offer came through and I spent time agonizing over the decisions. The benefits would be so much better, the pay equal to what I brought home working for The City…oh, and to return to a 40-hour workweek! But I loved my current job – the days passed quickly (all six of them each week!) and I really enjoyed bantering with the people that I worked with. It was a heart-wrenching decision, but in the end I decided on a return to my past.
This week, I will return to the life of banking. I feel confident that I will be able to meet the challenges that will be laid before me. I’ll be learning new duties and have the opportunity to once again prove myself to be successful.
I will overcome the emotional damage that I sustained in my prior job. I will rebuild my confidence. I will prove myself. I will be a success.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Magic And Mystery Revealed
It occurs to me (and I have not missed hints from others) that I have been lax in writing about the travels of Hubby and myself as of late. In fact, the last trip I wrote about was almost a full year ago! I never even jotted down the precious memories from the Magical Mystery Tour that Hubby surprised me with for our anniversary and Christmas last year!
After building up the suspense for many, many months, the magical moment arrived when Hubby would finally tell me where he was taking me on the surprise trip – the night before our departure! We met for dinner with friends, and he presented me with a gift-wrapped travel book that would tell me where we were going. The only thing I knew prior to this was that we were leaving extremely early in the morning and that I should have every stitch of clothing in the house ready to pack the night before. I was absolutely excited as I unwrapped the book to reveal our destination – we would be spending our anniversary, Christmas and New Year's Eve in New York City!
On December 22, 2007, we departed for our cross-country flight and arrived in The City's La Guardia Airport late in the evening. Taking a taxi across the river and into the heart of The City was exhilarating – my first glimpse of this marvel of civilization! The lights and sights and sounds were overwhelming. Our hotel was beautiful – the Embassy Suites in Battery Park – overlooking the Hudson River and a stone's throw from Ground Zero in the heart of the City's Financial District.
We ventured out on the 23rd to explore The City and begin our grand adventure! The weather was cold and rainy, but that does not stop true adventurers from Seeing, Experiencing and Exploring all that they can! We reveled in the experiences that The City had to offer – venturing into The City's heart at Times Square. We also had a date on Broadway – to see Monty Python's Spamalot at the historic Schubert Theatre. What an experience – an absolutely brilliant performance on the Great White Way!
We capped off the evening with a visit to Rockefeller Center to see the famous Christmas Tree – however found ourselves frustrated at the wind, rain and cold. Our first evening in The City was exhilarating and exciting, but laced with the frustrations that bad weather can bring – especially because we were slowed down by Hubby's injured foot and his reliance on his cane.
December 24th dawned with better weather prospects and better moods. It was, after all, our eight-year wedding anniversary! The views from the grand glass-fronted lobby of our hotel presented a stunning look at the Hudson River and New Jersey – a stark contrast to the day before. After fueling ourselves with a hearty breakfast, we were off to explore The City again!
We found ourselves in Herald Square – I so desperately wanted to see the famous Christmas displays offered by the big department stores of The City, and I was not disappointed! Macy's was our first stop where I found myself marveling at a sequential display through the windows showing inspiration from Miracle on 34th Street and Santa traveling the world to deliver presents.
Looming over us was the marvelous Empire State Building – New York's tallest building standing sentry over The City. A marvel of Art Deco Design and I was finally seeing this modern marvel in person!
We were awe-struck by the sheer size and enormity of the building…and the line that stretched around the block to get inside! But we both figured that you can't go to New York City and not go to the top of the Empire State Building, so we fueled up with lunch across the street and took our place in line. As we stood under the scaffolding that covered the sidewalk (renovations!), we looked around us and promptly chose to ignore the people in the bright yellow jackets that were shouting about there being a two-hour wait to get to the observatory – that this was the line before all the other lines - and hawking "express" tickets to the top of the skyscraper and a ride in some sort of virtual reality simulator.
We did, however, perk up when a person in an actual Empire State Building uniform came around with a bull-horn confirming the two-hour-wait-in-line story and selling authentic express tickets for a mere pittance compared to what the yellow-jackets were offering. Hubby stepped out of line and followed the employee to inquire about getting these tickets.
Now I should stop right here and state that Hubby was wearing his Military Patch Jacket – sporting patches from all of his duty stations, including Iraq and Kuwait – and was on a cane with a hefty limp (not from the war, mind you, but from a jet-ski incident three months prior!) And he seemed to have the stereotypical "war veteran" look – bushy beard and long hair. In fact, many times during our treks through The City, people approached Hubby and thanked him for his service to our Country. It was very heart-warming.
He approached the Empire State Building employee and asked about getting this deal with the express tickets. She took one look at him and said, "Sir, you don't have to pay the extra fee. You just go right on up to the front doors and tell them I sent you at no charge."
And thus we found ourselves on the fast track to the top. We approached the employee at the door and were handed off to another employee who hustled us through the (Beautiful! Stupendous! Amazing! Breathtaking!) marble-lined art-deco lobby and to the first set of elevators. We emerged on the sixth floor and were whisked immediately to the ticket window (ahead of the ticket line!) to purchase our tickets. Then, in a whirlwind we were whisked to the front of the security line and through the metal-detectors and into another set of elevators and then up, up, up to the observatory! I felt like a movie star!
We took our time and enjoyed the spectacular views of the City from the eighty-sixth floor observatory, and even decided to pay the extra fee for the views from the absolute top of the top of the City – the one hundred and second floor observatory. While the eighty-sixth floor has open views, the one hundred and second floor was glassed in, but it was amazing to see the difference in views between the two floors.
We wound our way down the building and back onto the street – amazed at this spectacular experience and how events managed to unfold for us. Certainly, two hours from our starting point we had seen the Empire State Building and were embarking on our next great adventure!
We found ourselves retracing some of our steps from the night before – wandering back on the periphery of the Theater District and at Sacks Fifth Avenue. These were my favorite Department Store Christmas Displays – decked out in blue and silver and featuring snowmen amid magical Christmas scenery!
And right across the street – the very famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Display – complete with trumpeting angels and stories-tall Christmas tree towering over the ice skating rink! It was absolutely magical!
New York City seems to breathe Christmas – everywhere we looked there were eye-catching displays – larger-than-life nutcrackers and Christmas wreaths and ornaments, snowflakes suspended from the sky, elaborately decorated Christmas Trees sprinkled throughout The City. THIS is how Christmas should feel – a sensory extravaganza that absolutely exudes the magic of the season for all to enjoy!
After basking in the atmosphere of Rockefeller Center, we continued our ramble through The City and found ourselves at the New York Public Library (a very famous sight thanks to the Ghostbusters – Hubby said that he expected them to come running out the doors at any second!) and ventured inside for a glimpse of their holiday display in Astor Hall. Then it was back outside, past the giant lions (Patience and Fortitude) draped in giant, festive wreathes and around the building to stroll through the Christmas Shops set up inside Bryant Park.
By this time, it was late in the day and thoughts of dinner were beginning to cross our mind. We found ourselves drawn again to Times Square and enjoying our anniversary dinner at the Hard Rock Café.
We wound down the night with an after-dinner stroll that found us marveling at the wonders of The City at night – the lighting spectacular and the completely different feel that The City had to offer. We found ourselves at Grand Central Terminal and meandered inside for a quick peek before returning to our temporary home at the hotel.
Christmas Day dawned as bright and crisp as the day before, and we were off to see Central Park. We spent the morning marveling at this wonderous patch of nature nestled snugly within the boundary of The City and set off to explore. We found ourselves quickly immersed in the feel of nature – climbing the rugged rocks at The Ramble, watching ice skaters at Woolman Rink, strolling through The Mall, visiting Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, rounding the Conservatory Water and crossing the Bow Bridge and ending a stroll through the woods with a visit to Belvedere Castle. We even managed to find ourselves on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park!
I couldn't think of a better way to spend the holiday! We wandered past the Museum of Natural History and found ourselves in a residential neighborhood – it was so amazing to see parks, playgrounds and schools nestled in such a busy city! We found our way to dinner and a movie before retiring back to the hotel for the night.
December 26th found us bright and early at Battery Park – on our way to see the Statue of Liberty! The City certainly looks different when you are looking at her from the very southern tip of Manhattan! Hubby had the foresight to order our tickets in advance, so we approached Castle Clinton National Monument to pick up our tickets and were on the ferry towards Liberty Island in no time!
Liberty Island afforded spectacular views of New York City and New Jersey – and though it was raining a little bit we took our time and enjoyed all that the island had to offer. After another wait in line and passes through security checkpoints, we found ourselves at the base of the statue and looking up through the glass ceiling to the top. Unfotunately, the crown is closed and you can go no further than the base observatory deck, but the views are still spectacular!
After lunch at the gift shop and restaurant, we boarded the ferry again and set sail to Ellis Island. We did not linger very long at the Gateway to America – but did take in some of the displays and strolled through the ground floor. The Great Hall was overwhelming, especially once you stopped to envision hundreds of thousands of immigrants passing through in search of a better life and seeing through the massive windows that what they must have seen and dreamed about– New York City on one side and the ever-welcoming Statue of Liberty on the other.
We stopped for coffee before boarding the ferry to return to Manhattan. After setting foot in Battery Park, we took some time to explore Castle Clinton National Monument and then worked our way back to the Subway and embarked on some post-holiday shopping back in the main portion of The City.
December 27th dawned and found us with no set agenda. So we set out from the hotel on foot and headed for the heart of the Financial District – Wall Street. We passed by Ground Zero and took a few moments to reflect and marvel at the efforts at rebuilding that were taking place at the site of our nation's most horrific attack. It was absolutely mind blowing to see the devastation and ruin, but so very inspiring to see The City rising up again like a Phoenix from the ashes.
After a brief walk, we found ourselves at the corners of Wall and Broad Streets – the New York Stock Exchange loomed before us, decked out in a patriotic light display. We turned and found ourselves at the base of the Federal Hall National Monument and looked up to see the site at the top of the steps where George Washington was sworn in as our very first president and secured his title as the Father of Our Country.
We took some time to explore this site – it is after all a stop in our National Park Passport book – and learned a little bit more about the history of our great country and its founders.
Our aimless meanderings for the day found us again at Grand Central Terminal, marveling in the fabulously art-deco lobby of the Chrysler Building, ogling at more art-deco stylings and the world's largest interior globe inside the Daily News Building and having lunch and coffee at the United Nations. Late afternoon and evening saw us visiting Trump Tower and seeing more spectacular Christmas window displays as we ventured and shopped.
December 28th dawned bright and beautiful, so we took the day to wander the streets and visit stores for shopping. Amidst our travels, we found ourselves at the Ed Sullivan Theater – home of The Late Show With David Letterman (Hubby so wanted to get tickets, but the writers were on strike and there were no shows filming) and the equally infamous Hello Deli. We lunched here and had the opportunity to meet Rupert G. Our big brush with celebrity in The City! Afternoon and evening were spent again in Times Square – taking in the exuberant vibe of The City.
December 29th dawned with the promise of more rainy weather, so after our ritual morning stop at the Starbucks located at Four World Financial Center, we ventured out for some indoor activities at the Museum of Natural History. We took in the Planetarium Show, saw meteorites, dinosaurs, infamous and marvelous life-like dioramas and other gems and treasures.
December 30th found us at the South Street Seaport – seeing the Titanic Lighthouse monument and stumbling across Bodies – The Exhibition. On a whim we took in this marvelous exhibition (I had already seen the Body Worlds exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany and knew that Hubby would find this very similar exhibition fascinating.) Then we ventured over to Pier 17 and the shops and unparalleled view of the Brooklyn Bridge. After lunch, we boarded a bus and headed North – farther afield from The City's main attractions in the center of Manhattan lay Grant's Tomb and we were off in search of this historic landmark. This marvel overlooking the Hudson River echoed the lines of Napoleon's Tomb in Paris, and we spent time immersing ourselves in even more of our great country's history.
New Year's eve dawned cold. Having seen everything on our must-see list, we lazed around the hotel resting and relaxing and looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve in Time's Square! We departed the hotel with full stomachs and extra sandwiches tucked away at five in the afternoon to make our way towards the madness that would be our way of ushering in the New Year. We found our way to the heart of Times Square and began seeking the special Handicapped Viewing Area that was promised on the Internet. After a few inquiries, we found a NYPD Officer that escorted us to the front steps of the Hard Rock Caf̩ Рlocated in the Paramount Pictures building and directly underneath where the ball drops at One Times Square.
Despite our best efforts at bundling up against the cold and drinking plenty of warm beverages, we found ourselves freezing – and applying the free mittens that were being handed out to our feet as extra socks to keep our toes warm. Happy feet equal happy people. ☺ As the night went on and our section became more and more crowded, we soaked in the electric atmosphere and watched and listened to the goings on via huge monitors throughout the square. Finally it was time – the final countdown and the ushering in of the New Year! Confetti and streamers filled the air and it was pure magic as everyone found themselves cheering and singing Auld Lang Syne.
Seeing New York City had long been a dream of mine. I never imagined that I would find myself welcoming in the New Year in New York City – at the Center of it all – but here I was. And it was all made possible by my wonderful Husband, whom I love more and more every day because of all the wonderful things he does and just because he is who he is – making my dreams come true.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Reason We Can't Own Nice Things
So my husband has this habit of buying things on impulse and telling me about them later. And he also collects projects.
Last Friday, he called me at work to let me know that he was on his way to pick up his "new" motorcycle that he found listed on Craigslist. This is just what we need...we already own plenty of vehicles...so many that we're out of parking space and have had to relegate the Jimmy to parking on the street. We now own six vehicles, only two of which run at any given moment.
(My Jeep and his 350Z are the two in operation now. The 280Z is a constant project with the engine torn apart in the garage, the 300Z is torn apart getting the steering fixed, the Jimmy "technically" runs, but the dash is torn out, and the bike refuses to start for some reason. Hubby won't embark on any of these projects until the temps here in the San Joaquin Valley drop from the triple digits into at least the eighties...can you blame him?)
Plus, my Hubby isn't well known for his graceful abilities. He broke his foot last year on a jet ski, for crying out loud...does he really need a motorcycle? I promptly reminded him to make sure that his life insurance policy is up to date.
So he gets his buddy to give him a ride to the next town over to get the bike and bring it into town. It apparently has a bad battery and has to be push-started. Hubby enjoys riding it back into town, but is wary of all the traffic and is uncomfortable riding it through heavy traffic, so he parks the bike at his buddy's house on the edge of town, with the thought we'd pick it up over the weekend.
So on Saturday, we hop in the Jeep and head over to pick up the bike.
The battery is dead. Dead dead. So we hook it up to the Jeep with my jumper cables and start the bike's battery charging. At this point, it is well over one hundred degrees outside, so we head inside for a few minutes to let the charging happen.
When we come out a bit later, the bike is quiet but the Jeep is still running. We come around the back of the Jeep to find the cables on the ground, burnt to a crisp. Apparently, one of the handles slipped and touched the bike's body, causing the cables to melt...right into my Jeep's grill and bumper!
My poor Jeep is going in for a new front end on Tuesday.
And again, I will be without my Jeep. I don't like driving other vehicles...even Hubby's...
...although I will admit that once I figured out how to get the darned thing out of the driveway it drove much better than the first time I drove his 350Z.
So that's my horror story...of my melted Jeep. And why my Hubby seems to be the reason why we can't own nice things.
Monday, July 21, 2008
how I Spent My Summer Vacation
Ah, summertime. Once upon a time a carefree season of wonderment and laziness. As children, the freedom from school and schedules lead into long and lengthy days of slacking and worry free times.
Alas…along comes adulthood and responsibilities. Suddenly we're lucky to have a couple of weeks of freedom – escapes from the stresses of day to day living and how we will carry ourselves through this life. And when we are lucky enough to find ourselves ensconced in a short break from reality, do we really leave it behind? No – it seems to find a way to creep into our brief revelries and jar us from our short fantasies. Worries about things at work, worries about things at home.
I spent a week this summer playing tour guide to my family. My father, sister, brother-in-law and niece flew out to visit me and my husband in the middle of June. It was a wonderful visit – we were happy to have them stay and show them some of the various wonders that the great state of California has to offer. I shuttled everyone up to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks where we oohed and aahed over the wonders of nature while carefully avoiding bears that crossed our paths. Down to LA where we saw every star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, all the hand and footprints of Grauman's Chinese Theater, visited the exclusive shops of Rodeo Drive and braved temperatures in excess of one hundred degrees to see the La Brea Tar Pits. Then for a jaunt up the coast where we reveled in the cooler temperatures and ate in a restaurant hanging over the water at Morro Bay. We visited the fabulous Hearst Castle, saw sea lions, seals and sea otters before heading into a giant grove of Redwoods and setting up camp in San Francisco, where we rode trolleys, saw fabulous Fisherman's Wharf and visited the famed grounds of Alcatraz.
It was a wonderful week of carefree adventures before returning to the realities of day-to-day life.
And then, just like that, when I returned to work, I lost my job. Nothing like the sharp pain of a heavy dose of reality to quickly awaken you from the fantasies that time away can bring.
The loss of my job hit hard. It has been analyzed and scrutinized by a close group of friends that lived the same life I did while employed for the same employer. And we've all come to the same conclusion – when you leave a job…for whatever reason and by whatever method…and you actually feel glad that you never have to go back…well, that says something about where you were working.
Hubby referred to it as "the swift kick in the ass" that I needed to finally leave and find something better. And it's true. I only stayed for the money. Most all of the people I enjoyed working with left long ago, and I stayed behind to trudge through the mundane and miserable and try to make something better out of something that just didn't want to be better.
Trying to choke down the automatic panic that began to set in, I began looking for a new job immediately. Not an easy task in this new "bear market" economy that we all have found ourselves in.
Oddly enough, looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. I have registered with almost every temp and placement agency in town. I've taken so many typing and computer tests that I seem to know them all by heart. I found myself having to sell myself hard – even harder than before as I now have a "released from employment" blotch on my pristine record. It seemed that this would be an obstacle to overcome…a huge obstacle forcing me to reach into the depths of myself and call upon my experience in retail sales (shudder) to sell myself to the masses.
Determined to rise above this hindrance in my life, I forced myself to remain positive. "Something better will come out of this," I told myself every day, "all things happen for a reason."
And at last, the light seems to have arrived at the end of the tunnel. After twenty-four days of unemployment, registering with every placement agency in town, prowling the job boards online, taking employment tests until my brain felt like it would fall out and scoring a small handful of interviews…I have an offer.
Summer vacation is over.
I will finally be joining the ranks of the gainfully employed again. And not a moment too soon. The pay won't be quite as spectacular as my previous job. But I hope to find the work environment to be more suited to civilized living. And I plan to take this opportunity that has been put in front of me and better myself from it. I'm looking at going back to school…they actually offer degrees in Administrative Assisting. I can get an actual degree that backs up what I already know that I'm good at.
And who knows…this may be only the beginning of something better for me. I have opened my eyes to the wealth of opportunities around me and plan to keep my options open. After all, this is only a temporary job with the option to be a permanent employee at a later date. I hope it works out, but still plan to keep my eyes and ears open for new opportunities.
I have the chance to spread my wings. It is time to fly.
Alas…along comes adulthood and responsibilities. Suddenly we're lucky to have a couple of weeks of freedom – escapes from the stresses of day to day living and how we will carry ourselves through this life. And when we are lucky enough to find ourselves ensconced in a short break from reality, do we really leave it behind? No – it seems to find a way to creep into our brief revelries and jar us from our short fantasies. Worries about things at work, worries about things at home.
I spent a week this summer playing tour guide to my family. My father, sister, brother-in-law and niece flew out to visit me and my husband in the middle of June. It was a wonderful visit – we were happy to have them stay and show them some of the various wonders that the great state of California has to offer. I shuttled everyone up to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks where we oohed and aahed over the wonders of nature while carefully avoiding bears that crossed our paths. Down to LA where we saw every star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, all the hand and footprints of Grauman's Chinese Theater, visited the exclusive shops of Rodeo Drive and braved temperatures in excess of one hundred degrees to see the La Brea Tar Pits. Then for a jaunt up the coast where we reveled in the cooler temperatures and ate in a restaurant hanging over the water at Morro Bay. We visited the fabulous Hearst Castle, saw sea lions, seals and sea otters before heading into a giant grove of Redwoods and setting up camp in San Francisco, where we rode trolleys, saw fabulous Fisherman's Wharf and visited the famed grounds of Alcatraz.
It was a wonderful week of carefree adventures before returning to the realities of day-to-day life.
And then, just like that, when I returned to work, I lost my job. Nothing like the sharp pain of a heavy dose of reality to quickly awaken you from the fantasies that time away can bring.
The loss of my job hit hard. It has been analyzed and scrutinized by a close group of friends that lived the same life I did while employed for the same employer. And we've all come to the same conclusion – when you leave a job…for whatever reason and by whatever method…and you actually feel glad that you never have to go back…well, that says something about where you were working.
Hubby referred to it as "the swift kick in the ass" that I needed to finally leave and find something better. And it's true. I only stayed for the money. Most all of the people I enjoyed working with left long ago, and I stayed behind to trudge through the mundane and miserable and try to make something better out of something that just didn't want to be better.
Trying to choke down the automatic panic that began to set in, I began looking for a new job immediately. Not an easy task in this new "bear market" economy that we all have found ourselves in.
Oddly enough, looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. I have registered with almost every temp and placement agency in town. I've taken so many typing and computer tests that I seem to know them all by heart. I found myself having to sell myself hard – even harder than before as I now have a "released from employment" blotch on my pristine record. It seemed that this would be an obstacle to overcome…a huge obstacle forcing me to reach into the depths of myself and call upon my experience in retail sales (shudder) to sell myself to the masses.
Determined to rise above this hindrance in my life, I forced myself to remain positive. "Something better will come out of this," I told myself every day, "all things happen for a reason."
And at last, the light seems to have arrived at the end of the tunnel. After twenty-four days of unemployment, registering with every placement agency in town, prowling the job boards online, taking employment tests until my brain felt like it would fall out and scoring a small handful of interviews…I have an offer.
Summer vacation is over.
I will finally be joining the ranks of the gainfully employed again. And not a moment too soon. The pay won't be quite as spectacular as my previous job. But I hope to find the work environment to be more suited to civilized living. And I plan to take this opportunity that has been put in front of me and better myself from it. I'm looking at going back to school…they actually offer degrees in Administrative Assisting. I can get an actual degree that backs up what I already know that I'm good at.
And who knows…this may be only the beginning of something better for me. I have opened my eyes to the wealth of opportunities around me and plan to keep my options open. After all, this is only a temporary job with the option to be a permanent employee at a later date. I hope it works out, but still plan to keep my eyes and ears open for new opportunities.
I have the chance to spread my wings. It is time to fly.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Love And Marriage
Life is so busy - but not too busy to pause and celebrate love on Valentine's Day.
But I don't feel the need for exuberance on this Valentine's Day. I already know that I am blessed to have the man in my life that I have. He is my true partner…and I love him more and more every day. And I never hesitate to tell him that.
Why stress over a silly Valentine gift? Why not just acknowledge the day for what it is - an additional opportunity to celebrate our love.
We won't be jockeying for reservations to a fancy restaurant. There will be no extravagant gifts.
After work, I plan to bring home Chinese take-out. Hubby is in charge of swinging through the grocery store and bringing home a decadent dessert. (I'm hoping for cheesecake!) We'll spend the evening cuddling on the couch watching TV or a movie. Just the two of us.
And our two dogs.
And the two fat cats.
A celebration of love, indeed.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Weary Traveler
Hubby and I were asked a question just the other day. "Are you two ever at home?"
For the past couple of weeks, the answer has been no. Hubby and I have been gallivanting about…fulfilling our immediate purpose in life. To see, experience and explore.
And I'm tired.
Hubby's parents embarked on a cross-country trip and dropped in for a visit. This has been a year in the planning, and I've been looking forward to it for the entire time. In the nine years that Hubby and I have cohabitated (eight of them as a married couple), his parents have never come to visit us. Geography has not been very cooperative. And when it has, there has always been some unfortunate twist of fate that prevented a visit from happening.
His father assisted in the initial move-in for the two of us, driving a trailer-load of Hubby's belongings across the state to our new abode…the cute little two bedroom apartment on Davis Islands. After that, the fates never aligned for another visit. We drove north to visit them at least once a month while we were in the same state. When we moved a couple of states away and they planned a visit to our little military home, Hubby found himself in circumstances that were not conducive to a weekend-long visit from his parents. The planned visit fell through.
We moved across the ocean. His parents planned a visit - excited to visit us and see a foreign land and experience a new culture. Alas, before they purchased their passports the tragedy of 9-11 happened and suddenly flying was a no-go. So another visit was canned.
So now here we are. Across the country and a few days drive away. And finally they come to visit. Of course, I prepped like a mad-woman. This was the first time they have come to visit, after all! The house was what I call "mother-in-law" clean. I cleaned for days in advance and did everything I could to ensure that they would be comfortable in our little nest. Hubby did his best to stay out of my way. And when the reviews came in, I passed muster! Insert warm fuzzies here. J
Dadoo and Momoo spent a few days here in our home and we did our best to show them the sights around us. Even though Hubby is suffering the after-effects of a recently broken foot and has to hobble around on crutches (perhaps the fates most recent attempt at foiling a visit - but we would not give in this time!) The day after their arrival, we took them up to the deepest canyon in the United States. The following day, it was a scenic drive to the coast for lunch. We spent a day relaxing around the house and then we were off on our grand drive - a week touring the region around us and seeing as much as we could.
We started with Yosemite National Park on day one. As many times as Dadoo had been there, he had never ventured up to the most amazing overlook - Glacier Point. We wanted him to experience this amazing sight, so we directed him onward. Hubby had to sit back and wait - once the drive was over, it was a quarter-mile hike uphill to the vantage point. But it wasn't a big deal after all, Hubby and I had been up there many times. So I escorted the 'rents on up while Hubby stayed back and sat at the lower overlook.
After that amazing experience, it was on into the park - through the scenic portal into the park (the most photographed spot in any National Park) and across the granite encrusted Tioga Pass. This is a favorite spot for the Hubby and myself. Absolutely amazing scenery - overlooking the Ansel Adams wilderness leaves you in awe of the creations of Mother Nature.
Once across the pass, we made a brief stop at Mono Lake and ventured forth to Reno for a night's stay. I have to say that I was disappointed in Reno - I would have liked to see the "big lights" and was anticipating something like the strip in Vegas. Sadly, Reno failed to deliver. Sure, there were casinos with lights, but not all together in a strip. Very disappointing indeed.
We awoke bright and early the next day to begin our next adventure - a drive into the Pacific Northwest. And this did not disappoint! We skirted around lake Tahoe and ventured back into California. But northern California differs from the area we live in quite a bit. It became quite obvious that we were in different terrain as soon as we saw the tall trees. Conifers galore!
Before we ventured outside the Golden State, we had one more stop on our list. Mount Shasta - the first on a list of great mountains that we hoped to see on this journey. We made it to the town of Shasta and found the road that lead to the top of the mountain. A short drive found us at the end of the road, on the wind-whipped top at 7,900 feet - looking up at the south end of the peak of the second-highest mountain (14,179 feet) in the Cascade Mountain Range. The view from the top of the road was amazing. The panoramic view down from the mountain was breath-taking. Looking up at the back of the glacial carvings on the back of the mountain left you stunned at the course of nature. We stayed for just a bit, amazed at the scenery around us. Then the cold started creeping past the protective barriers of our jackets and it was time to go.
We journeyed further north, crossing into the great state of Oregon. We made an overnight stay at Klamath Falls and started out bright and early the following morning to venture forth on our great adventure. Our next stop was Crater Lake. This amazing volcanic formation is the result of a mountain pretty much imploding on itself and the result, I'm told, is absolutely breathtaking. America's deepest and clearest lake, nestled in the crater of a former volcanic mountain. I say that I'm told this lake is absolutely breathtaking because we didn't actually get to see it.
We made it to Crater Lake National Park, and as we climbed up the mountain to get to the lake Mother Nature reminded us of her great powers and the weather began to turn. We climbed up, up, up and found rain. And as we kept climbing, the rain became snow. First little flurries dancing on the windshield, and then caking on the side of the road. We found ourselves at the base of the rim drive around the lake and unable to actually see the lake. Of course, the road that leads around the lake was closed - the snow clouds created a fog that was so thick that you couldn't see more than a hundred feet or so. We were at the visitor's center and unable to see past the edge of the parking lot.
So we began our descent down. On the way, we found ourselves immersed in a winter wonderland. Snow on the ground, snow resting in the tall trees. Very few vehicles were venturing up the mountain on this day, so the park was filled with a peaceful quiet that seemed to go on forever. We made a few stops here and there - to admire the river that created the gorge lining the park and see and hear the crashing of Annie Falls. To venture off the road just a little bit and listen to snow crunch beneath our feet, find animal tracks in the snow and enjoy the wonderland around us.
Undaunted by this minor setback, we ventured on. Pressing north, we found ourselves in a very small town at lunchtime and settled in at a very small-town-like gas station/diner for some of the best burgers we had ever tasted.
The further north we traveled, the worse the weather seemed to get. As we closed in on Mount Hood (at 11,249 feet in elevation, the fourth-highest peak in the Cascade Mountain Range), we drove through rain, rain and rain. With a sprinkling of snow, depending on our elevation. Fog was a constant - so much so that we couldn't even see this great mountain as we skirted around it on our detoured route. (Detoured because our desired route was closed due to snow.) So we crossed this desired location off our list and pressed forward - on to out next night's stay at The Dalles.
Day four saw us awake bright and early and ahead of the weather. We embarked on a scenic drive through the Columbia River Gorge along the Oregon/Washington state lines. Seeing the early morning sun color the sky and the canyon was just beautiful. We drove along the gorge, admiring the Columbia River's work (carving a canyon 4,000 feet deep and settling in at sea level) and took a drive along some of the waterfalls that feed into the river.
Alas, as we moved on, the weather caught up with us. As we pressed on to the next major destination on our agenda, Mount St. Helens, the rain found us and pressed on with a vengeance. We ventured into Washington and into the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument with the best of hopes. We stopped at the visitor's center and found that the road was open and we were told where to stop to look for elk. "They're always there," the ranger assured us. As we journeyed into the park, climbing up the mountain, the rain and fog found us. Certainly, we were afforded stunning peeks into the valley below. We could make out lava flows, rivers of ash covering broken trees and the replanting of the forest around us. But the elk had more sense than we did, apparently, and were nowhere to be seen at the scenic overlook. Undaunted, we pressed on and soon found ourselves at the top of the road - the observation deck overlooking the caldera.
Unfortunately, in addition to the observation station we also found freezing rain, wind and fog. We tried, we really did. Hubby crutched all the way up the hill with us and we sought refuge in the station. We viewed the exhibit housed in the station and learned all about the eruption and resulting lava and ash flows. We oohed and aahed over the fiber optic display showing the area and what happened where. Eventually we conceded defeat and headed back down the pathway to the parking lot. We had made it to the top, but the weather won out and denied us the opportunity to view this magnificent beast of a volcano.
Working our way back down the mountain, the weather improved only marginally and we stopped for lunch while still in the park. Feeding the local economy while feeding ourselves, we rested in the warmth of the gift shop/restaurant and planned the next stage of the trip. We had a few days left of travel to do, and the last major stop on our list awaited - Yellowstone National Park. So we tweaked our plans slightly - eliminating a sojourn to Maple Valley to see the changing of the leaves (we had so far seen plenty of trees, after all, both of the changing variety as well as the evergreens) and ventured on.
Driving as far as Dadoo dared in the weather, we settled in for the night in a quaint hotel out in the middle of nowhere. Packwood, Washington. Dinner consisted of take-out pizza and our attention focused on the Weather Channel, where we learned that this weather would be our travel companion for the next few days.
Day five - we awoke, packed up and moved on. Breakfast was served continental style at the hotel and we were in Yakima for lunch. And for a failed attempt to locate a Starbucks. We're all quite acquainted with Yakima now, but still couldn't tell you where to find a good cup of coffee there. Venturing East we found ourselves surprised with a day of mostly clear driving conditions and scenery we never expected to find in Washington. We found ourselves leaving the familiar trees of the Pacific Northwest and moving into "Big Sky" country. High desert, canyons and gullies greeted us as we pressed on towards the Rockies. It was a very brown landscape, yet it did not disappoint.
As we approached the white caps of the Rocky Mountains, the weather found us again. Climbing into the Rockies, and passing through Idaho into Montana, the rain again turned into snow the higher we climbed. Climbing over Lookout Pass (elevation 4,680 feet) from Idaho into Montana, we passed the worst of the weather for the day and began our controlled descent down into slightly lower ground and journeyed on to our next night's stay in Missoula.
Day six was set as a short day for driving. We awoke in Missoula and ventured a couple of hundred miles into Gardiner, the gateway to Yellowstone. It was an easy drive - we stopped for photos and found ourselves headed into a picturesque valley leading into the Yellowstone area, surrounded on either side by snow-capped peaks.
Arriving in Gardiner, we quickly discovered how much of a presence wildlife plays in this area. As I was unloading the van, I found myself surprised by a deer or elk just on the other side of the parking lot, grazing on shrubs outside the building! He seemed tame enough not to be bothered by a group of gawkers and even stayed around long enough for Dadoo, Momoo and Hubby to join me outside to marvel over him. He wasn't even disturbed by a hotel employee opening a door and passing right next to him on her way back into the building!
We settled into our lodging in Gardiner and decided that it was early enough to check out a little bit of Yellowstone. We drove through the picturesque town and found the stone gate to Yellowstone on the very edge of town. A few miles into the park is Mammoth Hot Springs and another elk sighting. We were so excited to spot an elk Buck lounging in the brush on the side of the road on out way in. Little did we know…
As soon as we got into Mammoth Hot Springs and stopped at the visitor's center for information, we found ourselves surrounded by elk. There was a buck resting in the middle of the village with his harem all around him. They were lounging in the courtyards and lawns between the buildings, grazing on the grass and resting. It was amazing…they were so close to us that we had to watch where we stepped! As people gathered around to observe the elk, a ranger was giving a talk about the buck and his harem.
Flush with the excitement of this sighting, we worked our way down the road and stopped at the springs. Hubby stayed back in the van - the boardwalk through the springs was wet from the rain and just looked too slippery. Momoo, Dadoo and I ventured out onto the short path that lead to the base of the springs and marveled over the colorations in the rocks, the steam emitting from the pools and the stench of sulfur emitting from the entire area. Truly amazing.
Back in the van, we decided to see how far we could get into the park before dark and found some side roads that lead us up and overlooking the Mammoth Hot Springs - a perfect vantage point for Hubby to get out and see what he missed down below. Deciding against venturing out into the springs on the boardwalks we stood at the overlook and took in the sights from the top.
Further down the road, we found ourselves surrounded by evidence of the fires that swept through the area in 1988 and the new growth generated since. Seeing new life flourish amidst such devastation was humbling - Mother Nature's spectrum can range from relentless to gentle all in one season. Her ability to heal after such a disaster is astounding.
Wildlife reigns supreme in this national park. As we journeyed on the roads, we saw a wolf venturing through the trees, and elk and bison in the meadows, woods and right alongside the road. We could have reached out the window and touched the bison, if that were a wise idea. Venturing further into the caldera of the park, we witnessed dense forests, open meadows, hot springs along the roadside, and geysers and their steam plumes in the distance. Yellowstone is truly alive with activity at every turn.
After a quick stop for souvenirs and another stop just off the road to see Norris Geyser Basin, we decided to head back to the hotel for the night. The thought of driving on the roads after dark, amongst the bison and elk roaming through the park, was disconcerting to say the least.
The following morning, we were met with a surprise. Snow! We ate breakfast at the hotel and debated whether or not to try going into the park. Before long, we decided to try to get in as far as we could and were off, with the back-up plan being that we could spend the day resting at the hotel and do a little souvenir shopping in the town.
We ventured into Mammoth Hot Springs again and found that the inside of the park was blanketed with snow. It was beautiful. We stopped at the hotel there for a little bit of shopping and attempted to venture a little bit further into the park. We went as far as we felt comfortable going and wound up turning around in defeat a couple of miles down the road, when we found slush on the street.
Back in the town, we found lunch and a nap. In the early afternoon, Dadoo looked outside and decided that it looked like the weather had cleared up some and we should try for another trip into the park. It turned out to be an excellent idea. The snow had let up and the roads had cleared up enough to let us get all the way to Old Faithful. We toured the historic Old Faithful Inn and witnessed the famous geyser going off, right on time. Another round of gift shopping and we were on our way back out of the park, with enough time on our hands to take a couple of the scenic loops leading past waterfalls, hot springs and geyser basins.
The remainder of this trip was spent driving to our departure point, Billings, Montana. We spent the night there and Hubby and I departed the next day from the airport on our way home. We flew over the Rockies and into Salt Lake City. From Salt Lake City, it was on to Fresno. The sights on the ground below from the vantage point of an airplane were stunning. The Great Salt Lake stretched on forever. Mono Lake and the Sierras from above were gorgeous. It was so neat to see the giant trees in miniature, against the grey granite of the mountain range and blue of the lakes below.
We finished up the weekend unpacking and lounging around our house. It was so good to be home!! The dogs and the cats were happy to greet us upon our return and our clan was reunited again. I had a few days of the return-to-the-work grind ahead of me and then it was off to the next great adventure.
Unfortunately, I spent two days fighting off a migraine headache. Taking Hubby to the hospital for his follow-up visit post-surgery, and my almost passing out right there in the cast-making room was enough. I spent all day Tuesday in bed, doped up on Hubby's prescription strength Ibuprophen. By Wednesday, I felt better but was now stressed out. A million things to do, not enough time to get it all done! Work is high-stress as it is, but then I had all the unpacking from our previous trip and the preparation for our upcoming trip thrown into the mix!
Thursday morning saw me kenneling the dogs, arranging for the cats, and working. At the end of the work day, I came home, finished up laundry and packed the car. Getting Hubby settled in, we ventured off in his Nissan 300Z and headed north.
As I was driving up the freeway, I came to the conclusion that I am far too conservative of a driver for this car. I could feel the car beneath me, begging for more than I was willing to give it. The twin turbos rumble in this thing, and when I pressed on the gas to accelerate and pass another vehicle, I could feel the Black Beast saying to me, "Oh yeah…that's it…let's go faster!"
An overnight in Stockton, and we were off on Friday morning to meet in Manteca. In the rain. I'm sensing a pattern here - and in this car, the rain is not my friend. :/
Rising and shining well before my desired wake up time, we made it out of the hotel by 6:30 am Friday morning to make it to the drivers meet in Manteca. It was an opportunity to meet with old friends and catch up before beginning our long weekend of driving these monster machines through the amazing scenery of this golden state.
Getting everything squared away over morning cups of coffee, we were off and running - one of seven Zs touring the state. A drive through some winding country roads and into Yosemite National Park and our second run over the Tioga Pass in two weeks. The scenery was no less amazing this time, even with the newly falling snow swirling around the windshield.
Lunchtime saw us on the border of Mono Lake and in a favored diner in Lee Vining. Thirteen people gathered around the table and fun times and stories were shared. Lots of catching up to do, as it had been some time since some of us had seen each other. And some of us were meeting for the first time…it's amazing how a love for these cars bring people together like that.
After lunch, we drove south and skirted around Mono Lake, taking in beautiful scenery and preparing ourselves for the drive ahead…winding and dipping roads at high speeds. No oncoming vehicles to worry about, no other traffic on the roads. We had managed to shed the wet weather after descending the Sierras before lunch and were ready to go! We accelerated and enjoyed - surrounded by the beauty of nature and feeling the amazing sensation of speed on clean roads. How amazing it was to ascend a hill in the road and see the car before you drop over the crest…like it is falling off the face of the earth! And feeling the floating sensation in your stomach as you crest and dip, just like a roller coaster!
Before long, we found ourselves in Bishop for the night. Arising the next morning, we found that rain had passed through the town, but the storm had quieted. Leaving a soft blanket on the mountain tops around us, the storm left us a breathtaking sunrise…seeing the crisp white on the peaks over the city and the changing blues of the sky as we looked westward. More of Mother Nature's artistic creativity.
After breakfast it was off again - climbing up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to overlook the valley below - we found a little bit of snow on the ground this year, but nothing compared to the slushy roads that we found last year. This time, the roads were clean and dry, allowing us to rip up the mountain and take the curves of the road as we saw fit. We were earlier than any other morning traffic, so the roads were our own as we climbed and climbed - reaching the scenic overlook for a quick break and an opportunity to take in the stunning panorama of the Sierra Mountains and the valley below.
The late morning saw us driving into Nevada on one of the smoothest stretches of road around. Here, in the empty desert and the glass-smooth highway, speed creeps up on you and you find yourself soaring down the road, thoroughly enjoying the sensations of the machinery at your fingertips and the adrenaline that only speed can provide.
Venturing back into California and the north-eastern gate of Death Valley National Park, we were greeted with the stunning array of desert colors provided by this magnificent area. Rustic reds meld and intertwine with pinks, golds, sunset-tinted oranges and foamy greens, all set against the crystal blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Stunning scenery worthy of any artist's pallet indeed.
Lunch was had at Scotty's Castle, and it turned out well that Hubby and I had already been there twice before - embarking on both tours offered by the National Park Service of this manse in the middle of the desert. Hubby's broken foot would not allow us to embark on any tours this year, so we rested under the trees for a picnic lunch and enjoyed the company of friends.
After lunch, it was a quick jaunt over to Ubehebe Crater. In some infinite lack of foresight, two motor homes full of German tourists pulled out in the midst of our convoy through the desert. Most fortunately, we were all communicating via two-way radios and those in the front passed on news of clear lanes ahead…allowing the three of us in the back the call of safety for passing these behemoths on roads that did not allow you a clear view of what was ahead. As I pulled over into the oncoming lanes and opened up the throttle of the machinery beneath me, I felt the car purr with satisfaction as I pushed the accelerator and pulled ahead of the vehicles impeding our progress. I'm pretty sure that we probably scared the living daylights out of the Germans in the lumbering behemoths as three little sports cars roared by!
Stopping to take in the scenery at Ubehebe Crater, if but for a brief time, we found ourselves awed by the endless ability of Mother Nature to create and change her landscapes. The sky was a brilliant blue, the clouds were in such formations as to not even appear to be real…and the giant volcanic formation before us was truly stunning. Colors layered through the landscape in a perfect pattern - like it was all placed just so deliberately!
After moments of reflection and photo-snapping, we were off again. This time seeking panoramic views of Death Valley at Dante's View and Zabrinsky Point. Climbing and climbing, twisting and turning hairpin curves found us at the viewpoint that allows you to overlook Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the United States. Dante's View affords you a truly panoramic view of the valley - from the famous and much photographed mountain range to the saltwater below.
Descending the overlook, taking the same tight curves that we traversed on the way up, we soon found ourselves at Zabrinsky Point - incredibly famous dunes that have been photographed and featured in television and movies time and time again. Alas, this viewpoint required a steep climb on foot, so Hubby and I passed this time. We parted with the group and ventured on back to the hotel for check-in and rest before dinner.
A relaxing evening group dinner in the Furnace Creek steakhouse was an opportunity for more group time and getting to know each other and catch up on missed time. We whiled away the evening over steak and wine and enjoyed each others company.
Arising early on Sunday morning, it was time to head home. Leaving Death Valley, a favored spot of mine, is always difficult for me. As we drove westward and climbed out of the valley, taking in the volcanic formations around us, we took our last opportunity for adrenaline-laced driving and climbed, descended and twisted and turned with the roads, the engines of our vehicles roaring along the way. I was able to work out my technique for controlled engine braking on mountainous terrains as we climbed and climbed, then descended and coasted through the mountains and out of the valley.
And then it was time to return to the reality of the freeways. Traffic, congestion and big trucks. Yes, given the choice, I would take the wide open stretches of desert road any day. Whether in the cockpit of a speed demon sports car, or the comfortable cabin of my soon-to-be SUV.
Arriving home relatively early on Sunday, we found time to rest and relax before the weekend crept away from us.
And so now I find myself back in the grind of the work week…anxiously looking forward to the upcoming weekend that bookends the days in-between. But this time, not for the adventures that lie ahead, but for the time off to truly rest and relax.
Time to recharge. I really need that right now.
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