Glad Michelle posted that we were home. When we crossed the Bay Bridge, I totally ran out of gas.
But, I wouldn't have traded the time with Michelle and Lucy (well some of Lulu's time ) for anything. We talked from D.C. to S.F. and the time flew by.
Thanks for viewing our blog....
A once-in-a-lifetime-hope-we-make-it-out-alive roadtrip from VA to CA to reunite the posse once and forever!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Probably the last blog entry... for me.
Yesterday, Auntie, Lucy and I arrived home in San Francisco at 10:00am to a beautiful 60 degree day. Well in advance of our 8pm planned arrival, might I add. It's been funny to field all the different opinions about our journey along the way... "Wow! You're making great time." or "You're only in Colorado??"... funny how everyone has a vision of where you should be along the way.
Here is the bottom line for me-- I learned some really interesting things about my aunt and my family along the way-- my maternal grandfather worked on the railroads across the midwest, I have a distant family member who died recently in a bar fight in Winnemucca, my Uncle was stationed in Fort Carson, CO in the intelligence unit, and many more fascinating things for me-- but probably not for you-- so I'll spare you all.
Now I'm looking forward to getting settled in my apartment later this week... and shortly on the heels of that, getting settled in my new classroom and starting back to work teaching on August 15th.
My life feels very surreal at the moment. It almost feels as if my life has been a movie that was on "pause" for two years and I've pressed "play" in California again. Not to say that I've been paused in my work... but all of sudden, now that I'm home, my time in DC feels like a dream... a wild and wonderful feeling.
Once I and I (lol) have a chance to recover and refresh from the trip, we'll post some pics from along the way...
Until then, signing off!
Here is the bottom line for me-- I learned some really interesting things about my aunt and my family along the way-- my maternal grandfather worked on the railroads across the midwest, I have a distant family member who died recently in a bar fight in Winnemucca, my Uncle was stationed in Fort Carson, CO in the intelligence unit, and many more fascinating things for me-- but probably not for you-- so I'll spare you all.
Now I'm looking forward to getting settled in my apartment later this week... and shortly on the heels of that, getting settled in my new classroom and starting back to work teaching on August 15th.
My life feels very surreal at the moment. It almost feels as if my life has been a movie that was on "pause" for two years and I've pressed "play" in California again. Not to say that I've been paused in my work... but all of sudden, now that I'm home, my time in DC feels like a dream... a wild and wonderful feeling.
Once I and I (lol) have a chance to recover and refresh from the trip, we'll post some pics from along the way...
Until then, signing off!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday morning--like a kid on Christmas morning!
Poor Auntie Rena.
This morning brings back memories of Christmas mornings past (and sadly not as far past as I would like to admit) when I would be awake far too early and ringing her and My at some ridiculous hour to see if mom and I could come over to open the presents. In my pajamas btw.
This morning there isn't a present in sight except the knowledge that today brings us one state closer to home--- that is the shiny wrapped present with the big red ribbon under the tree waiting to be ripped open--- too bad we have to go through the charcoal in the stocking town of Winnemucca first....
Pray for us...it's going to be 100 degrees there today.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
This morning brings back memories of Christmas mornings past (and sadly not as far past as I would like to admit) when I would be awake far too early and ringing her and My at some ridiculous hour to see if mom and I could come over to open the presents. In my pajamas btw.
This morning there isn't a present in sight except the knowledge that today brings us one state closer to home--- that is the shiny wrapped present with the big red ribbon under the tree waiting to be ripped open--- too bad we have to go through the charcoal in the stocking town of Winnemucca first....
Pray for us...it's going to be 100 degrees there today.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Park City Utah
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Saturday in Park City Utah-- Michelle's Version
It's our second night in Utah, and if I'm being honest-- I've been pleasantly surprised, if not a little alarmed, by how incredibly nice people are here. Nice yes. Diverse, not so much. I have seen mostly suntanned white people, a few latino people (working in the hotel of course-- although aforementioned suntanned white people seem to also have a monopoly on most of the hotel jobs as well), and tonight we even sat next to a (gasp) interracial couple named Harry (a Union Pacific locomotive engineer) and his wife of 24 years, Kathy.
The only reason I originally planned to stop for more than a night in Utah was to see Maureen Schiffman, one of my dearest friends and former teaching colleagues. We got to spend three sunshine filled hours catching up. One of the many beautiful things about our friendship is that no matter how much time goes by, it is literally as if not more than a day has passed since we last spoke. Later in the afternoon, her husband, Josh and her three kids, Noah, Ben and Lilly joined us plus her new yellow Lab puppy, Cali. It was quite a fun reunion.
One of things I love most about my time with my aunt is learning so much about her. Here are a few
things that I've learned that Irene particularly enjoys: (translation: things that Irene has very very little patience for. :-))
1) People who talk just a little too loudly on their cell phones outside their rooms. (I think this might have something to do with being "the listenator" and being unable to hear the OTHER side of the conversation.
2) Mormon weddings with no alcohol. Oh and goofy dancing groomsmen in PINK vests with tuxedos in Mormon weddings.
3) Adolescent girls playing with American Girl Dolls in restaurants
4) Waiters who eyeball her for saying she's finished with a half eaten ice cream sundae
5) Women complaining about chewy steaks from Ruby Tuesday-- Um. It's from RUBY TUESDAY.
To be continued--
The only reason I originally planned to stop for more than a night in Utah was to see Maureen Schiffman, one of my dearest friends and former teaching colleagues. We got to spend three sunshine filled hours catching up. One of the many beautiful things about our friendship is that no matter how much time goes by, it is literally as if not more than a day has passed since we last spoke. Later in the afternoon, her husband, Josh and her three kids, Noah, Ben and Lilly joined us plus her new yellow Lab puppy, Cali. It was quite a fun reunion.
One of things I love most about my time with my aunt is learning so much about her. Here are a few
things that I've learned that Irene particularly enjoys: (translation: things that Irene has very very little patience for. :-))
1) People who talk just a little too loudly on their cell phones outside their rooms. (I think this might have something to do with being "the listenator" and being unable to hear the OTHER side of the conversation.
2) Mormon weddings with no alcohol. Oh and goofy dancing groomsmen in PINK vests with tuxedos in Mormon weddings.
3) Adolescent girls playing with American Girl Dolls in restaurants
4) Waiters who eyeball her for saying she's finished with a half eaten ice cream sundae
5) Women complaining about chewy steaks from Ruby Tuesday-- Um. It's from RUBY TUESDAY.
To be continued--
Saturday in Park City, Utah
Today is a day off from driving while Michelle visits with Maureen, a former teacher friend who lives in Salt Lake.
LuLu, Lucy, Tula, Boo Boo, (all Lucy's names and she answers to those and more) and I are hanging out in our beautiful room at the St. Regis Dear Valley...if you have to across Utah to get to California, and that would be the only reason, IMO, to cross Utah, then staying in Dear Valley is a nice treat. It's beautiful and the weather is spectacular. Lulu and I just came in from a walk on the trail and now it's time for nappies. Her not me.
My side of the aisle knows that I am a dog lover, and have had 4 goldens during my lifetime. But, have to say this trip with Miss B and Tula has broadened my perspective on traveling with dogs. Lucy is a golden doodle with a big Golden personality. (My iPad says that golden doodle is two words...tough writing this blog when you're traveling with an English teacher.).
So far I've learned:
1. leave your scented shirt with the dog if you leave her alone in the room
2. make sure you leave the leash on the dog so you can grab her when she starts growling and barking at the Colorado State Trooper who has a big gun and is giving mommy a ticket.
3. offer the dog ice water when she's over-heated in 109 degree weather so she throws up on her special blanket...I couldn't look.
I've learned more but I don't want to risk Michelle leaving me in Utah if you catch my drift.
Tomorrow we head to Winnamucca, home of Mother Mucca, see Tales of The City, and a few Agnos relatives....but that's another story.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
LuLu, Lucy, Tula, Boo Boo, (all Lucy's names and she answers to those and more) and I are hanging out in our beautiful room at the St. Regis Dear Valley...if you have to across Utah to get to California, and that would be the only reason, IMO, to cross Utah, then staying in Dear Valley is a nice treat. It's beautiful and the weather is spectacular. Lulu and I just came in from a walk on the trail and now it's time for nappies. Her not me.
My side of the aisle knows that I am a dog lover, and have had 4 goldens during my lifetime. But, have to say this trip with Miss B and Tula has broadened my perspective on traveling with dogs. Lucy is a golden doodle with a big Golden personality. (My iPad says that golden doodle is two words...tough writing this blog when you're traveling with an English teacher.).
So far I've learned:
1. leave your scented shirt with the dog if you leave her alone in the room
2. make sure you leave the leash on the dog so you can grab her when she starts growling and barking at the Colorado State Trooper who has a big gun and is giving mommy a ticket.
3. offer the dog ice water when she's over-heated in 109 degree weather so she throws up on her special blanket...I couldn't look.
I've learned more but I don't want to risk Michelle leaving me in Utah if you catch my drift.
Tomorrow we head to Winnamucca, home of Mother Mucca, see Tales of The City, and a few Agnos relatives....but that's another story.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Happy Hour-- We don't care what time it is and trust us, this is the best entry yet.
A big thank you shout out to all of you who are concerned about us driving in the 110 degree weather. You know who you are. We left Colby (don't ask) Kansas at 7:30am this morning and headed out onto the wide open I-70 W to Boulder, Colorado ....it was a beautiful morning and we decide we would give Bossypants another shot. Bossypants + Tina Fey reading in her own voice + Sleep Deprivation + Driving through cornfields of Kansas = Hysterical Laughter.
Michelle had the first 2 hour driving shift today and and we were moving across Kansas laughing big belly laughs with our Greek sister, Tina.
All of a sudden, I hear a panicked "Oh SHIT!!!" in the middle of "My Honeymoon or a Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again".
"What's wrong?" I respond, my heart beating wildly...
In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
I'll let her tell you how her speed got up to 96mph....it was something with the cruise control (yes I tested the system on my shift and I can see how it happened). But my recommendation is not to listen to Tina Fey (in any form) while driving through rural Colorado. Too much potential for getting pulled over at 96 MPH. (Betty, breathe. It's okay.)
Editorial Comment from Michelle: Some great co-pilot she is... she never saw the cop behind me OR that I was going 96mph.
Fast forward to the beautiful town of Boulder, Colorado. Turns out that it's not so dog friendly on the Pearl Street Mall... so we grabbed lunch at Chipotle (neither of us will be eating that again for a while. 'nuff said.) We decided Lucy might benefit from a good run at a dog park and the friendly FedEX driver (a bit too friendly if you know what I mean) told me how to get to a nice park...
Two words: The Regulars.
Now in most dog parks, what you find is people, walking throughout the part, whilst their dogs romp around joyfully playing with other dogs. Not here. The Regulars were all assembled in a semi-circle sitting on chairs. BTW I think Boulder went 99% for Obama (hence the progressive bent emanating from the semi-circle).
There was the guy with the Greenpeace t-shirt, communist insignia bag, white ankle socks with Dansko clogs (sorry Beth) giving a lecture on the history of the refugees in Palestine.
Then there was Troy, the Solar Panel Installation Specialist and when I say Solar Panel Specialist, what I really mean to say is, Specialist on every subject known to man and womankind. You wanna know about that dog breed? It's a Catahoula. A combination of 14 different dog breeds that the Native Americans first bred on the reservation. What? You're thinking of taking Karate? Excellent idea. It will help to center your Chi and balance your aura, as well as teach you how to throw punches so that you can disable an attacker by using his own power against him. I won't even go into the conversation on why the adopted Shitzhu had a slightly turned in hind leg.
Jeff came late from his lunch break with his Weimeraner, Sofie... There was the woman who was about to have knee replacement who brought her friend, Amy with the adopted dog with the hind leg issue. Upon hearing the discussion about the knee replacement, Michelle leaned into me and said, "If you tell her, we'll be here for the next three hours."
Suffice it to say, Lucy had fun...
So now it's Happy Hour-- Does it get much happier??
One puppy, two tennis balls, a few glasses of wine-- can you tell?
Michelle had the first 2 hour driving shift today and and we were moving across Kansas laughing big belly laughs with our Greek sister, Tina.
All of a sudden, I hear a panicked "Oh SHIT!!!" in the middle of "My Honeymoon or a Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again".
"What's wrong?" I respond, my heart beating wildly...
In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
I'll let her tell you how her speed got up to 96mph....it was something with the cruise control (yes I tested the system on my shift and I can see how it happened). But my recommendation is not to listen to Tina Fey (in any form) while driving through rural Colorado. Too much potential for getting pulled over at 96 MPH. (Betty, breathe. It's okay.)
Editorial Comment from Michelle: Some great co-pilot she is... she never saw the cop behind me OR that I was going 96mph.
Fast forward to the beautiful town of Boulder, Colorado. Turns out that it's not so dog friendly on the Pearl Street Mall... so we grabbed lunch at Chipotle (neither of us will be eating that again for a while. 'nuff said.) We decided Lucy might benefit from a good run at a dog park and the friendly FedEX driver (a bit too friendly if you know what I mean) told me how to get to a nice park...
Two words: The Regulars.
Now in most dog parks, what you find is people, walking throughout the part, whilst their dogs romp around joyfully playing with other dogs. Not here. The Regulars were all assembled in a semi-circle sitting on chairs. BTW I think Boulder went 99% for Obama (hence the progressive bent emanating from the semi-circle).
There was the guy with the Greenpeace t-shirt, communist insignia bag, white ankle socks with Dansko clogs (sorry Beth) giving a lecture on the history of the refugees in Palestine.
Then there was Troy, the Solar Panel Installation Specialist and when I say Solar Panel Specialist, what I really mean to say is, Specialist on every subject known to man and womankind. You wanna know about that dog breed? It's a Catahoula. A combination of 14 different dog breeds that the Native Americans first bred on the reservation. What? You're thinking of taking Karate? Excellent idea. It will help to center your Chi and balance your aura, as well as teach you how to throw punches so that you can disable an attacker by using his own power against him. I won't even go into the conversation on why the adopted Shitzhu had a slightly turned in hind leg.
Jeff came late from his lunch break with his Weimeraner, Sofie... There was the woman who was about to have knee replacement who brought her friend, Amy with the adopted dog with the hind leg issue. Upon hearing the discussion about the knee replacement, Michelle leaned into me and said, "If you tell her, we'll be here for the next three hours."
Suffice it to say, Lucy had fun...
So now it's Happy Hour-- Does it get much happier??
Day 4-- crossing the Colorado State Line
We have officially made it to the WEST! A little drama this morning... Will share the deets later but suffice it to say that I now have first hand knowledge that state troopers in Colorado are cute AND charming... To be continued.
- Posted by Miss B
- Posted by Miss B
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