D is for Deserts

D is for Deserts

I have typed and fixed this several times....every time I start I typed D is for desserts...and that is not my topic today...must be a little Freudian slip of some kind.  As I told you on my A is for Adventure day I have seen 48 of the 50 United States and that is my focus for today.  I want to tell you about some of my favorite deserts in this grand country.  One of my least favorite is the desert in Yuma>  Why you ask?  I knew you would....on the flip side of our grand trip across country from Alabama to Los Angeles nd back....we blew a water pump in Yuma.  It was mid day and the heat was 118 degrees.  I could not believe it was that hot.  I had three kids to entertain so I went across the street to a little convenience store and bought 6 eggs.  While my husband and his uncle worked on the van I broke eggs on the asphalt so my kids could see that you really can fry and egg on the pavement if it is hot enough.  I did not realize as I did this that I had drawn a crowd of local hispanic children who thought the gringa cooking eggs on the ground was loca en la cabeza (crazy in the head).  It took the better part of the day to fix the car and it was miserably hot.  I felt like we were living in an oven.  When we were finally back on the road we paid for a room at the local Motel 6 so that showers could be taken....this was going to be a drive through the night event.  Everyone washed the road weariness off and put on fresh clothes.  We made sandwiches in the seat....or tried to.  Did you know that desert heat can actually suck the moisture out of bread?  We had toast...and it was hard....but we ate it anyway.  Yuma desert is a beautiful place to see....just don't stop for long.

Do you love deserts?  I actually do...and some of my favorites are the Great Salt Flats in Utah, the Painted desert in Arizona, the Badlands of New Mexico, Death Valley, Baja, and the Bonneville Salt Flats.  I love the history that goes with deserts.  I love the stories of the Indians of the plains, the story of the Dust Bowl, and the western migration of Americans to find gold and a better life.  There is so much to learn when you study the history of America, don't you agree?  Have a happy day and come see me again.  Tomorrow is E and I am going to tell you about somewhere I have known well since childhood......but you will have to come back tomorrow to see.

Day Two In Hawaii: Pearl Harbor

Day two in Hawaii started off early.

I’m talking 530 in the morning early.

This is because that’s when our Home of the Brave tour began. The Home of the Brave tour was only for military members and it took you to Pearl Harbor and other places related to December 7th. It seemed like a fun tour.

Only it started at SIX IN THE MORNING!

Tom was like, “Oh well. I’m up early anyway.”

I was like, “I’M NOT!”

Lucky for him, I was jet lagged so being up at 530 wasn’t as painful as it might have been. Since we arrived in Hawaii the day before at six in the evening, we had just gone out for dinner, crashed, and went to bed. Therefore when the alarm went off at 530, it didn’t hurt as much.

It was still odd being in the hotel lobby when it was dark out. We were surrounded by older people flipping through newspapers and sipping coffee. Enjoying the quiet.

The tour picked us up on time and the guide was really knowledgeable. And funny. I hate when tour guides speak in a monotone voice and are like, “And this is this, and that is that.” Boring. This tour guide was upbeat and I was impressed being that it was six in the morning. Maybe I need to remember that there are people who exist who ARE morning people.

The reason why the tour was early was because Pearl Harbor gets busy quickly. They only offer tours until 3 and tickets go fast. We got the first pair of tickets, which rocked. We were able to explore around the area before the boat would take us out to the actual Arizona memorial.

Here it was in the distance:



And this was the bell from the Arizona:



This was an interesting sign:



There was a small museum with all sorts of items in it. Look at this:



How scary. I feel for the men on those ships. Can you imagine?



This is me touching stuff. Don’t worry, you were allowed to. I’m one of those people that have to touch buttons. I didn’t know Tom was taking this picture.



A tropical looking Tom in front of the Arizona memorial. That ship is the Missouri. You can go on it on a separate tour. I’ve already been on two battleships and believe me, that’s enough. You do a lot of walking on those things. Up and down stairs. Down corridors that look haunted. And so on. And so forth. I personally feel if I’ve seen on battleship I’ve seen them all but Tom still insists on dragging me into them. Lucky for me, we didn’t have time for the Missouri.



This pigeon was walking around as we waited in line to see the movie that you get to watch with the tour. It basically tells you about what happened on that day. The movie, not the pigeon. This pigeon was “special.” It walked funny, had bloodshot red eyes, and ran into the corner once. Basically, the Gary Busey/Lindsay Lohan of pigeons. It made me laugh.

When we got on our boat that would take us to the memorial, this was in the sky:



Very fitting, I think.



Getting closer to the monument.



I’m sure most people know that the ship is still leaking oil. The saying goes that it will continue leaking oil until every member on the Arizona has died. The air smelled of oil and my heart clenched as we walked onto the memorial. I kept thinking about what those boys must’ve thought being trapped in the ship. Many never got out. Some were stuck in the ship for days and slowly drowned to death. It’s just…I look at my boy, and I think, “I would die if something happened to you..” I couldn’t help but think of the soldier’s mothers as well.

This is a list of everyone who died on that day:



Again.

I can’t even imagine. Being there is sobering and it makes you think about what is important in life. Who cares about Facebook, those damn Kardashians, or the latest fashion? These men died for our freedom.







We were able to spend 15 minutes and then we were taken back. This was the anchor from the ship:



Yes, I am in a more tropical shirt! That was the most tropical thing I brought. And I didn’t have my purse because you weren’t allowed to bring any bags. Yes, I am holding a bag but that’s because it’s THEIR gift shop bag.

Our tour guide said the following as we drove to Pearl Harbor.

“Here are the rules for Pearl Harbor: no bags.”

Yup. Thanks to September 11th, bags are no longer allowed. FYI.

We went to other bases that had to do with December 7th and then ended in a museum that is owned by the tour guide’s friend.

This motorcycle was in the movie Pearl Harbor:



Tom is pretending to be Ben Affleck.

It was a fantastic day. If you are military, I’d highly recommend the Home of the Brave tour.

We got back in the afternoon and relaxed. Then we went back out to enjoy a Hawaii sunset:





Don’t mind that kid. He wouldn’t stop getting out of the shot and his parents were too busy trying to take photos of the sunset. It’s like, hello, please get your kid, we’re trying to get a shot too. Thank you! Now I have a photo that looks as though the kid is eating my ass. Neat.

So that was Day two.

Day three consisted of a tour around Oahu.

More on that Friday. Not tomorrow, since Thursday is Things That Annoy Me Thursday and Oahu does NOT annoy me.

Well, maybe all the other tourists did...

C is for Canyon

C is for Canyon

One of my favorite adventures involves the South rim of the Grand Canyon  This is one of the most magificent places on the face of the earth.  We (the whole family) were planning a cross-country trip to Los Angeles to visit some family.  We left after the menfolk got off from work and droe the first leg at night.  It was so cool and lovely to see all the night lights of the cities we came upon.  We were smart and kept a driver driving, one on deck, and two resting.  Stopping only for gas, groceries, and periodic stretch breaks we found ourselves looking over Winslow, AZ about 2 in the morning as day three broke through....I was driving and exhausted....I saw the town and headed for the lights.  We spent the night in a local Third Rate Romance kind of motel that actually rented by the hour.....and slept until daylight.  Our next stop was Lost Wages, NV.  We had planned to stay at Binion's Horseshoe in Vegas....small problem here...we had a 9 year old with us...AND the busboy's union was picketing outside of the hotel.  I had been to Vegas several other times and have stayed in some nice places....this was not one of them.  Kat and I were banned to the bedroom where we ordered room service....and plenty of it....and Kat located and was reading the local Chicken Ranch menu....it took me a few minutes to realize...just what she was talking about.  OMG!  I was delighted when morning came and we continued on to Los Angeles...I thought the gambling interruption of our trip was over....but no...we had one more stop for lunch....and two hours later we left gambling behind....a lot lighter in the pocket. 

My second favorite canyon is where Frank and I spent our honeymoon - Little River Canyon National Preserve in the Ft. Payne area of Alabama.  We stayed in a sweet little cabin tucked away in the trees near Mentone, AL.  If you are ever in Alabama you need to check this out.  It is gorgeous.  Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs offer settings for a variety of recreational activities. Natural resources and cultural heritage come together to tell the story of the Preserve, a special place in the Southern Appalachians.  C is for all my Canyon adventures I have had in this life.  I can't wait to share the rest of the alphabet with you.  See you tomorrow...for D.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and that the post you link up with is an Hey, It's Okay post.

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To have really liked the Hunger Games. Although in my mind, reading the name Peeta turned it into Penis.


To have tried poi. It tasted like asshole.


To miss all the fresh fruit from Hawaii.


To be glad the kids were good for Tom’s Mom. I was worried she’d be rocking back and forth by the time we got back.


To have tons of pictures from Hawaii to go through. Tom took most of the photos and he snapped away like crazy.


To want to go back to Hawaii in a couple of years. We’ll probably explore the other islands.


To wish I liked hiking more. There is a lot of it in Hawaii. As it is, I’m rather lazy and would prefer to get a ride up to the top of things.





To have loved the luau food. Mmm….fresh pig…

B is for Beach

B is for Beach

Many of my favorite adventures revolve around the beach.  I think my first beach trip was when I was less than six months old.  When I was young my mom would set my playpen under the pier in Palm Beach or Lake Worth so I would stay out of the sun.  She would then slather me down with Coppertone and I enjoyed the sound of the waves, the smell of the beach, and the breeze.

Since the first time I went to the beach it was love at first sight.  I still love the beach and each trip means rest, reading, and seafood. If I am anywhere there is a beach I am going to check it out.  I have never been disappointed by one yet....well...that is not quite true.  I went to Hawaii with my BFF Mary on her 50th birthday and we went to see Wiamau Bay.  I was so excited...because my life dream was to surf it.....and The Pipeline.....when we got there....our tour guide told us where we were....and the sea was as flat as a mirror.....and I was major league let down.  Wiamau only has large waves in the winter.  How sad.....oh well.  In 2009 I took Mary with me to Wales, Ireland and England for St. Paddy's Day....we stopped at a beach in Wales....and even in the cold....we loved that beach.

This past Thanksgiving, since my family had had a rough couple of years with the death of many family members we decided to all gather at the beach....courtesy of my cousin Amanda who rented a house for 17 of us on 31-A in the Watercolor area.  We loved it.  There was a house with three bedrooms and two baths....and a gatehouse attached with two bedrooms, two baths, a game area....and it housed us all comfortably.  We had a blast. 

This was the gang, we ate a huge meal with Ramona's in-laws, shopped, played at the beach, enjoyed time with each other, sang, ate some more, played cards, read, rested....it was a wonderful time at the Beach.

Day One: Hawaii

Aloha!

I’m back from Hawaii.

I already miss it.

But before we made it to Hawaii, we had to travel on a long airplane ride.

I do not like airplanes.

It all started last Monday morning. Well, wait. It really started the night before, because I was trying to pack for the trip. I suck at packing. I was standing in my closet wondering what I should bring. Tom finished deciding what he wanted to bring in five minutes.

“Done,” he said, tossing in his final shirt.

Meanwhile, I was still debating if I should bring my pink flip flops or just stick with the black ones.

What perfume should I bring? The kind that made me smell like peaches or the more sultry one?

Did I need my straightener? Probably. What if my hair didn’t like Hawaii?

Did I need—

“Why are girls so complicated?” Tom wanted to know. “Guys are simple. We toss in clothes, deodorant and a toothbrush and we’re done.”

By the time I was done, I felt like I had packed most of my closet.

Tom thought I had packed most of my closet.

“There is no way you’ll wear all these clothes,” Tom said, bewildered.

“I might,” I insisted. I nodded my chin towards the various dresses. “I never know what occasion we’ll be confronted with. And who knows, I might want to pretend to be in the 1900s where they changed like five times a day.”

Tom shook his head and muttered something about complicated women and their packing.

We were dropped off at the airport the next day. I said goodbye to the kids—Natalie was like, “Don’t forget me.” Don’t forget her? We weren’t even going to be gone for a week! Way to make me feel guilty.

Then it came time for security, which I hate. It makes me cranky. It makes Tom cranky. This is why we could never, ever do The Amazing Race together. Our conversation went something like this in the security line:

Tom: You need to take off your jacket. (Yes, I brought a light jacket. Airplanes make me cold, yo.)

Me: Why? I’ll be going through the scanner anyway.

Tom: I travel more than you do. You’ll need to take off your jacket. Don’t tell me how to travel.

Me: I really don’t think—

Airplane Worker: You need to take off your jacket ma’am.

Tom: *Tossing me a knowing smug look* I told you. Like I said, I know how to travel.

Me: Well congrats to you, asshole.


I know. I shouldn’t name call. But security gets me tense. Especially when the lady behind me was practically pushing me along as I took my shoes off. And I don’t like to be wrong.

I went through the scanner and it went off. Naturally. This meant I had to be frisked. I wanted to joke and be like, “Ma’am, I don’t even know how to do fourth grade math, let alone make a bomb.” But somehow I don’t think the TSA lot find anything with the word bomb amusing.

I also had to have my hands wiped down to make sure I didn’t have explosive residue on them.

Again.

I don’t even remember how to solve fractions.

I wouldn’t even know where to begin making something explosive.

Being at the airport without kids is relaxing as you wait for your plane. I was able to read. In peace. While munching some food. I didn’t even have to share. I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO SHARE!

Then we boarded the plane and I distracted myself by finally reading The Hunger Games. I enjoyed the book and it kept me busy. I would have read it all non-stop but then Tom would get bored and would try to take the book from me.

“Break time,” he’d say.

What’s this BREAK TIME?

Then I felt bad because here we were going on a trip. Shouldn’t I be kissing him? Doing something vaguely inappropriate discreetly?

So I kissed him.

Leaned my head on his shoulder.

And all I could think was WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO KATNISS?

“You want your book back, don’t you?” Tom asked. He knows me well.

“Yes. But, you know, we can snuggle,” I offered.

Tom handed me the book back. “You can read. I know you’re aching to finish.”

And finish I did. How to waste eight hours? Read The Hunger Games.

When we landed it was still light out. Tom and I pressed our noses against the plane window and marveled at the color of the ocean.

“It’s so blue,” I whispered.

Outside it was even better. The air was warm and mixed with something sweet. Birds chirped in the distance. An actual Hawaiian man with a lei around his neck walked past us.

We were definitely in paradise.

We climbed into an airport shuttle that would take us to our hotel, the Hale Koa. I was surprised to see so many of the following things:

--Japanese tourists

--ABC Stores

--Wild Chickens

We pulled up at our hotel and my heart thumped with excitement. This was it. Our vacation was beginning.

To be continued…

(I’ll leave with a teaser picture..)

(I probably should have brought more tropical looking clothes.)

A is for Adventure

Today we kick off the A-Z blogging challenge which this year will be co-hosted by about a dozen different bloggers. Last time I checked there were well over 1500 bloggers signed up to play along. The idea behind the challenge is to post every week, Monday thru Saturday, during the month of April. Each post uses a letter of the alphabet as a springboard for content beginning with A (today) and running thru the letter Z on April 30th.  It's not too late to participate and if you'd like details you'll need to click here.

A is for Adventure

My whole life has been an adventure and my parents are the ones who made certain of it.  My father's mantra was we are not lost....we are simply exploring and explore we did.  I have been down every  road, not on the map, in Florida that exists.  I have seen amazing things during my childhood and growing up years there....and that carried over into my adult and parenthood years.  My kids have been to some amusement parks....but they have also seen Old Faithful erupt, the world's largest office chair, the world's largest ball of twine, the majesty of the Grand Canyon and Grand Tetons, Prince Edward Island's magnificent coastline, Jimmy Buffet's A-1-A, and driven across the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston through the Berkshires....with James Taylor singing in the backgroud.  I have been to 48 of the 50 United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada, England, Ireland, Wales, Italy, Germany, Paris, and still have so many places left to explore.  This summer I am going to Niagra Falls with some special ladies on our annual girls trip....and we are going to stay on the Canadian side...I am so excited.  I have a bucket list full of adventures yet to happen and another one full of adventures that have taken place and are etched in my memory.  I have done some crazy things.....I hang-glided off of a mountain top (and prayed on the way down that I would make it....and if I did promised God never to do it again.....a promise I have kept.), attended school in Washington at Whitman College as an NEH fellow because I wanted to know if I could be chosen for this.  A is for Adventure that is for sure....so join in the A-Z challenge April Adventure....it is not to late yet....but will be soon.  I am keeping today short (and yes, this is short for me) so you don't get bored and not come back and visit me later in the month.