Here is the latest on my San Diego Theta Mom's weekend.
I flew in early yesterday to wait for the DD who was still sleeping when I called. Ok, normal, so I wait 45 minutes for her to pick me.
Finally in the car, she takes me to the hotel Hyatt Islandia where I normally stay to discover the hotel in undergoing a MAJOR renovation. No concierge floor etc. even though I am booked in this now nonexistent room. Apologies are offered and rate is greatly reduced.
http://islandia.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
After the front desk lowers the rate, I check in. I unpack and iron for a bit and since I am tired and want to relax, I decide to take a shower. NO HOT WATER!! Well, I am in a bit of a hurry as we have lunch ressies in La Jolla so I take quick cold shower and call the front desk. No problem, they tell me, will be fixed when I return.
Samantha picks me up and we go off to get her hair done in La Jolla while I stroll the streets. I am along for the bill paying at the end of the hair assignment. Once the bill is settled, we drive up the hill and pick up her HS best friend Shawn from her condo.
Back to downtown La Jolla, we have lunch at George's at the Cove in the Ocean Bistro. $80 lunch for 3 including tip for DD, myself and her HS best friend Shawna plus $8 for parking. Don't even ask about what we spent clothes shopping. Drop off Shawna back at her condo and off we go.
http://www.georgesatthecove.com/ocean.php
Next we are off to the car wash and to fill up her car with gas. Of course car is totally filthy and below empty. She proceeds to leave her Trish McEvoy makeup bag at the car wash so we have to rush back, grab makeup bag. She runs home after she takes me back to hotel room where water is still ICE COLD. I take a quick cold shower, change to cocktail attire, call front desk again and get profuse apologies and another promise that problem will be fixed.
Sam returns and we go to the cocktail party which is held on the terrace of the Joan Kroc (yes, as in McDonald's) Institute for Peace and Justice terrace. 100 Thetas mom and DD's gather to chat and eat a few veggies, a bit of cheese and drink punch for $15.00 each. However, we had to pick up our Theta Mom's race shirt so not a total loss. Needless to say by 7:30 PM DD and I are starving!!
http://www.sandiego.edu/about/virtualcampustour/
We drive to Old Town in San Diego, miraculously find a parking space and proceed to have another miracle, immediate seating at DD's favorite Mexican restaurant, Cafe Coyote. DD insists I take off my phone and Bluetooth and relax which I do putting both on the chair next to me. Then, DD convinces me since she is driving to have a Million Dollar Margarita made with Don Julio Repaado, Cointreau, Grand Marnier shaken with fresh orange juice, fresh lime juice and served on the rocks before dinner and a glass of Sangria with dinner. Both were JUMBO size. At this point, mommacita, is very happy. If you check the picture on the website, we were sitting right behind the lady making tortillas.
http://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com/
Dinner costs about the same as lunch and we leave to go back to the hotel and to drop off DD. As soon as we arrive at DD's condo, I discover I have left Bluetooth and phone on chair. We immediately call restaurant and they say nothing has been found. DD says we are on our way!!! I have visions of $2K worth of calls to Mexico at this point. Arriving 10 minutes later at restaurant, DD jumps out of car and rushes inside. Two minutes later she comes back beaming with both items in her hand. It seems the hysteria in my voice had convinced the head waiter to go back to the table and sure enough on the chair is sitting both items. A HUGE SIGH.....
DD returns me to hotel and I surf the DIS boards briefly before falling asleep as I have a 6:30 AM wakeup call for the Breast Cancer Walk.
6:30 arrives and you guessed it, NO HOT WATER!! Another quick cold shower and a call to front desk who assures me that they are not going to charge me for last nights stay and offer me a free dinner in their restaurant. What am I going to say at this point? Fine, BUT FIX the water. I am stylishly dressed in Theta Mom's shirt, workout pants and tennies.
DD in the same attire picks me up at 7:00 AM and we are off to sign up. We meet the rest of the other stylish dressed mom's and DD's, take a group picture and chat before the race. DD runs the 5K and I walk the 3K. We are cheered at the finish and get our Pink Medals. Now back to the car to rush back and change for the mini meet at the Park.
http://www.cityofhope.org/walkforhope
Back to the hotel for a quick shower and of course, still no hot water. At this point, I call for the third time, get the manager and more apologies. However they do send someone from maintenance who tells me that all will be fixed by this evening. We shall see!!
Presidio Park is the location for the mini meet. Located above Old Town San Diego, it has a great museum. For us, we are directed to picnic benches to sample fresh fruit, orange juice and bagels. DD and I grab a bagel and some fruit and chat with the other moms. For this "meal", I have only had to pay $5.00 each.
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/mainpages/locate4.htm
After the "meal", we must dash to make our mani/pedi appointments in La Jolla. If you have ever been to La Jolla, you know there is tons of traffic going down Torrey Pines Blvd and parking is never easy. Luckily, the parking fairy is again looking down and sprinkles her pixie dust. We find a parking (free) space right across from the Salon which is above the Hard Rock Cafe.
Two blissful hours later and over $100 poorer, we emerge full rejuvenated but hungry!! Off to Zanzibar in Pacific Beach for a fabulous Asian Salad for me and a Mango Chicken Salad for Samantha.
http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/...estaurantBarGuide/Pacific.Beach-2764683.shtml
Reinvigorated, Sam drops me back at the hotel so I can rest up for a late Thai dinner with her and her friend Jocelyn. So here I am typing away and getting ready for a quick browse of the DIS before I take a short power nap.
My life as a Sorority Mom continues with a brunch tomorrow. Will their be hot water????
Stay tuned.
Noel
Thank goodness everyone here understands thinking about disney frequently!
Ummm.....yes mom....I'm sure I can find anything you'd want to watch. 
I think the lure of the shops has been very strong......
for you this trip was finding parking spaces and DD....speaking of which, isn't it strange, yet quaint to sit and have drinks with your DD. How old is she now? It's amazing to see them all grown up.
Won't go tomorrow because Tyler and I have lots of yardwork to do. Supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow and sunny all day, so we'll be pulling weeds away from the flowers and plants that are just starting to come up! WOOHOO! 
