Home...sweet home?!

After a day at Sea World, another at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Old Town San Diego, we came home today. BRRRRR!

Yesterday, San Diego started to cool down a bit and by the evening, it was in the lower 60's. This trend continued and followed us northeast. By the time we reached the middle of Utah, we were hitting temperatures in the 30's and SNOW!!!! One nice week of 90+ weather and back we returned to winter?

I was quite prolific in my picture taking this week and have discovered my laptop's picture holding capacity. There are approximately 300 pictures sitting on my camera, just waiting for me to make space for them. I plan to make CD's of all the pics both for myself and for Stacey and Tricia. Just one more project for tomorrow....along with unpacking, laundry, getting souvenirs to my girls, and catching up on the latest with Tammy and Shelly.

Hm, a couple other tidbits on our trip. I got voted the 'annoying little sister' (first time for everything! ....and I was informed that 'annoying' isn't always bad and is quite relative!), Tricia was our 'Mommy' and Stacey was the 'annoying big sister'.

Did I mention that somewhere along the way on our trip, I caught a doozy of a cold? What a downer for a vacation!!! Oh well, I just kept plodding on and self medicating and managed to still have fun.

I discovered on Monday that I had a ton of red bumps all over my arms where they had been exposed to the sun/ sunburnt. It was quite itchy and I thought maybe I had heat rash. By Tuesday, I discovered that I was wrong....they were BLISTERS! I haven't burnt so badly in years! And only once before in my life. I'm just glad it was just on my arms, not on my back, legs, face, etc.

I got two separate exciting calls while on my trip. My sister Amethyst is getting married on August 5 in Missouri and my brother Tom is getting married July 29 in Oklahoma! I'm so excited for them and for getting to see my whole family this summer!!! Now, only to get ppl. to take shifts for me...

Did I mention that I'm tired and I'm wasting time so that I won't feel so guilty about not unpacking right now? Ok, maybe I'll unpack some of it. *Sigh*

Pictures are pending...based on when I can upload them.

Still trippin'

One of my favorite shots, the sun was setting over the beach in Santa Monica.

The following pics are in no particular order.

This is me, at the beach, with the sun behind me.
Our sand 'nest'.
Isn't it beautiful?
Stacey and Tricia enjoying our nest
Stacey and me.

Los Angeles Temple.
Sun setting over the ocean in LA.
My footprints, about to be washed away.
Stacey and I, riding the waves.
Enjoying the sun.

Whoville.
Psycho house.
Set from War of the Worlds.
Jaws shark.
Universal City street.

Disneyland entrance.
These two are for you, Jon!!

The escalator at Universal Studios, looking out at the studios.
Jurassic Park ride.

In Disneyland.
Splash Mountain.
Chip and Dale and us!
Disneyland castle
Universal Studios

After our first night at Anaheim, we discovered that we no longer had an internet connection. We aren't sure where it went other than 'away'. Anyhow, to make a long story muy abbreviated, Disneyland was fun. We rode lots of rides, met lots of Disney characters, bought lots of souvenirs, got lots of sun and had tons of fun.

Yesterday, we went to Universal Studios, rode a couple of rides, took the backlot studio tour, got lots more sun and had fun. After we left US, we took the scenic route through Hollywood. We drove past Rodeo Drive and saw the Los Angeles Temple :). After much traffic and several miscalculations, we FINALLY arrived at a beach right at sunset. It was GORGEOUS!!! With the lateness of the hour, we only stayed at the beach for a bit.

Today we drove to San Diego, attempting to take the scenic route. With all of the highways in CA, it was interesting. We made it to our next hotel safely and were informed that we definitely did have wireless internet in the room. YAY!!

This afternoon we hit the beach. Stacey and I alternated body surfing and sunning while Tricia sunned herself. It was truly AWESOME!!! We are all thoroughly brown with a red overtone. After having a bite to eat when we got back to the hotel, we crashed in the hot tub for a few. What the life!

On the road

Our hotel
Palm trees all lit up at night
Lines of palm trees lit up

Stacey
Tricia
Me
Utah desert
California palm trees and flowers

Sunrise

It seems I have been remiss as of late in updating. Busy times.

Anyhow, today was a REALLY long day. I made it to bed last night at the late/early hour of 0100. My alarm was set to wake me at 0450, but at o430, I was wide awake on my own with my mind whirling. So very much to think about. The least of all of the things on my mind was OUR TRIP!! YAY!! Real vacation time!!

Because of my early start, I was showered, dressed, all my belongings were sitting by the door and I was anxiously pacing when Tricia arrived to pick me up at 0600. We loaded the car and zipped down to American Fork to fetch Stacey. The sun was rising as we arrived at her door. After loading Stacey's belongings, we were officially on our way!

After passing through many miles of mountainous desert land and several hours later, we arrived in the Las Vegas area at lunchtime. Stacey and Tricia had each driven for several hours and it was my turn. As I'd been the shotgun rider the entire time, I had yet to get a nap. I lasted about 2 1/2 hours behind the wheel, crossing into the California wasteland, before I just couldn't do it any more. I relinquished the wheel and passed out in the back seat.

I woke up to find that we were entering the LA area. I felt like I had only been out for 1/2 hour, but was informed that I hadn't stirred for about 2 hours! We navigated the labyrinth of highways and crazy drivers and finally located our motel without too much difficulty. It turns out that we are literally kitty corner from Disneyland! Tomorrow we can just walk there.

California, as it turns out, hasn't really been the warm relief from Utah spring we were hoping for. The temperature here in Anaheim when we arrived this evening was a cool 72 F with a brisk breeze. When we had settled into the motel, we all changed into warm weather gear and set out looking for dinner. After dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company and a brief trip to Target, we were COLD!

After such a long, tedious day of driving, the three of us were simply too exhausted to take advantage of the hotel's jacuzzi this evening. We just crashed, checking email, reading, and watching Criminal Minds. I'm truly surprised that I've lasted long enough to type this all out. Tomorrow is D-Day!!! We'll be off to meet the Mouse, himself! G'night!!!

:(

Sometimes I think I majored in Foot in Mouth 101. I just open up, stick it in and start shoving it deeper. I'm sorry. I really am. If what I said hurt or upset you, please forgive me! Please be patient with me and know that I'm not perfect, but I am trying.

My day!

Today was a great day.

I was awake nice and early this morning despite the fact I couldn't sleep until 01:30 last night. Amazingly enough, I was actually bright eyed and chipper. (For those of you who actually know me, you may be aware that this is extremely unusual for early morning! I'm just NOT a morning person!!!)

Being so extremely peppy, I decided to actually eat breakfast. The only problem was that I didn't exactly have much food in the house. So, I did what I usually do when such a situation arises... I called Tammy! Of course, she was thrilled by the idea of getting out of the house and we hit IHOP for breakfast.

Following IHOP, Tammy needed to take Molly - her sister's dog - to her parents' house. As we were going to be headed there anyhow, she got the bright idea of us hopping in the hot tub while we were there. It was heavenly! The jets worked out most of the kinks in my shoulders that have built up over the past week. The only problem with sitting in the hot tub is that it made me ready to go back to sleep...and slightly cooked my brain!

After hot tubbing, we hit Denny's for lunch. All this eating out reminded me of my extreme need for home cooked food. Petsmart and then the Harmon's later, I was stocked up. Somewhere along the way, we gathered odd looks teaching the girls the chicken dance in the car and had to mediate all out battles over the carts with little cars attached to them at the store. The little girls were beat and ready for naps.

Sara and I, however, were still on the go. We dropped Tammy and the little ones off at home and headed to Target. My objective at Target was to find a bird feeder to create 'live cat TV' for Gizmo and Oliver. As I walked into the store, I noticed that Target had swimsuits on sale! While hot tubbing earlier, I had noticed that my swimsuit had acquired a hole in the side seam and was heading downhill fast. After trying on a couple of swimsuits and trying to decide, with the oh so not helpful opinions of a 5 year old, I ended up buying both of them! Oh, and then I had to remember my original reason to go to the store. I did end up with a lovely hummingbird feeder and pretty lights to hang either on my deck or in my bedroom. Of course, Sara got chocolate, so her day was complete.

I finally made it home and crashed for about 2 hours, playing online, checking email, etc. Around 8, my friends Stacey and Tricia showed up on the doorstep as planned. I was chatting with a friend and a WEE bit distracted when they arrived. We started trying to plan our 'California adventure', but I couldn't focus very well until they laid down the law and I stuck to just one conversation at a time! :) Anyhow, long story short...we are booked at a motel in Anaheim for the 23-26 and one in San Diego the 27-29. YAY!

The three of us were starving, so we hit Biaggi's for dinner. Did you know that even on a Friday, there really isn't much of a line to eat at 21:30? It was great! We got right in, got served quickly. It was YUMMY! Around 23:00, we made it back to my house, where the other two girls hopped online and discussed boys and online dating and other such nonsense! ;)

Somewhere in the midst of our original planning session, my little sis, Amethyst showed up on my doorstep. She'll be here with me until Tuesday, when she flies home. She stayed at the apartment while we went out and had loooong chats with her honey. When my friends left, Am and I had a short powow and now....after this incredibly fruitful day, I'm going to crashhhhhhhhh. *YAAAAAAAAAAAAwwwwwN!*

Let's go fly a kite!

Yesterday was cold and windy and ... perfect for flying kites!!!

Ok, much better. :)

NOT a good day. I desperately need a hug. :~(

I wear my sunglasses inside

Today has been one of those days. I can't seem to get rid of this headache that has been around for 3 days now. I woke this morning, unable to bear the light. Apparently, the grounds crew of the complex decided today was a wonderful day to trim trees, hedges, grass, etc. The noise level!!!

I desperately want to get out of this house, but can't think of anything I feel up to doing. I've been told to stay away from work tonight. I'm SOOOOO bored!!!! Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of light reflecting off my phone and the thought crosses my mind, 'Hallelujah! Someone's calling and rescuing me!'. Not so much. I need to just put the phone in another room so I stop that.

Life is really good, I'm just bored, achy, and generally just feel icky.