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.

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 Café – located 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeepers Creepers!

OMG!

So Hubby and I went to the dealer to order my new car today...and wound up driving one off the lot!

I've been in love with Jeeps since falling for my best friend's Cherokee a decade ago.  I *heart* the Cherokee.  I wanted a Cherokee...Icried when Jeep stopped making the Cherokee.  It was a sad, sad day.

Imagine my immense joy when I discovered that Jeep was reincarnating my beloved Cherokee in the form of the Patriot!  Since that fateful day back in 2005, I have wanted one of these machines.  So much so that I have been saving all year and plotting the sale of my Buick in order to create a nice little down payment.

The Patriot is all I've been able to talk about.  It's been driving Hubby insane.  So much so that he finally gave in and said that we could order my new car on Veteran's Day.  A Patriotic act by a Veteran on Veteran's Day, indeed.  :D

My local Jeep delaer had a Patriot on the lot that was everything that I wanted, except for the transmission. I wanted a manual, and they had the autostick. 

We told the salesman that I wanted to take one for a test drive - and I wanted my Hubby to drive it, so that he would have been behind the wheel of one before we placed our order. (We had stopped by the dealership in July and test drove the manual Limited that they had on the lot, but it was me behind the wheel that time.)

I requested that we test drive a Limited with the convenience package - I wanted to see all the bells and whistles on one in person. The salesman took a look at what was in the front of the lot and didn't see one available, so he drove us around to the back of the lot to look at what was back there. His eyes fell on the Steel Blue Limited, and I told him that that was the one I wanted...but the transmimssion was wrong.

So he got the price of the autostick knocked off for us. And we haggled for a good trade-in on my Buick. Add in a dealership $500 incentive along with a $500 military discount...and the next thing we knew...we were driving home in my little beauty!

I've got my check from the bank on the way. And I've got the UConnect working, the horn-honk turned off when I lock the doors... my splash guards are sitting in the garage awaiting install, and my cargo carpet is on order. Should have it this week.

We wound up purchasing a service contract program, and we upgraded that to get free tires for as long as we own the car. They'll also perform all maintenance (oil changes, balances/rotations) for free. That added a little bit to our final cost, but Hubby thought it would be worth it in the end. Especially for the tires. 

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...cs1HkA&notag=1

It was starting to get a little bit dark by the time we got home, so I was a bit quick with taking pics. I'll get some more in better light later on.

I already enjoy the higher ride - pulling up in the driveway next to Hubby's car really showed me the difference. And as I was moving things into the Pat from my Buick, I realized that I'm really going to miss the pockets behind the seats. I guess I'll keep my map books under the passenger seat.

Otherwise, it is so nice to ride in a vehicle that doesn't stutter when I drive it. Or leak coolant. Or honk incessantly if you accidentally brush up against the steering wheel with your arm...or a piece of paper. 

Farewell, dear Mathilde.  You, the Buck in my life, will be dearly missed.

I can't wait to show up at work tomorrow in my new ride!