One Way Trip to Canada, Eh? FINAL THOUGHTS 08/10

[nunzia]

still here..have a great long weekend
You can pour your own wine in your room and then take it around the ship? You can fill a plate of goodies and take it back to your room?
Neat-o

 

[peterpaul877]

Hi,
I am here and I am interested in West Coast Repo on the Disney Wonder.Cant wait to hear all about the planning and exciting offer from yours.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi,
I am here and I am interested in West Coast Repo on the Disney Wonder.Cant wait to hear all about the planning and exciting offer from yours.

welcome i feel honored that your first post is on my TR! Are you looking at this Sept back to LA?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Just caught up here!

Have a wonderful time and enjoy yourselves!

Thanks! We are having a great time!

still here..have a great long weekend
You can pour your own wine in your room and then take it around the ship? You can fill a plate of goodies and take it back to your room?
Neat-o

It is great, and getting some much needed sunshine!
Yes! I guess it is a slight Faux Pas to bring your own glass to dinner, but no one really cares. Oh and snacks? You can do anything your little heart desires! Hard to beat a cruise


I will be back to post in a fee days hard to write on my nook have a great holiday everyone!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

oh goodness, I'll have to think on a few of those. AZ??? I missed that somehow. This winter would drive anyone to AZ!

Hmm, Cynthia - no one else has even said they were thinking, so you might have a chance! LOL!
Yes, Jim was offered a nice position in Phoenix, so he will be retiring from the military - next Fall and we will be heading to the desert - which means this coming year will be our LAST WINTER here!

 

[anewmac]

For those of you still reading, I wanted to just say that we are taking a 6 day weekend to the LA area for Caitllin's graduation, so I probably won't be posting another update until we get back! Until then, talk amongst yourselves - topic: Our next day is a day in San Francisco - guess if you will (There may be a smallish prize involved)

1. Did I stay up to watch the Royal Wedding? NO
2. Did I get my butt out of bed in time to be on deck for sailing under the GG Bridge?HECK YES
3. Was my friend Deborah on time to pick us up?NO
4. What was our first activity of the day?Ghiradelle chocolate factory for some hot cocoa to warm up?
5. What iconic sight did we see 2nd?a trolly car LOL
6. What did we eat for lunch?i wanna say clam chowda in a bread bowl from the sourdough factory.. but im starting to think i should go less touresty.. mcd's? LOL
7. Where did we eat dinner?the ship?lol

Some of these may be hard - there are alot of famous sights in SF, you might go with your 2nd instinct this time, and remember I posted our plans somewhere a long time ago.
Im sure i sucked at this LOL but it was fun.. mayb i will do this LOL

You might remember we had a day and a half here, so our time the first day was pretty unlimited....


I'm happy to be getting away - supposed to snow here again on Friday
Still thankful it's not tornadoes, but happy we are moving to AZ next year!
I must have missed that too.. ohh closer to Dland.. and ME yeah!!! lol So how do you feel about getting out of the Military.. i used to feel like I coudnt wait all the moving around etc.. now im skured i dont want E to leave it LOL

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! If you love your Freedom, thank a soldier!!!

Please tell Jim thakn you for his services!!! Cant wait to hear more hun!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi everyone! We had a nice mostly sunny trip to LA for Caitlin's graduation from Mater Dei and came home to 40 degrees and rain! I am so tired of this Winter!

I see no one (except Drea) took me up on my offer to "talk amongst yourselves" and answer my quiz questions. (Maybe you too were enjoying the holiday weekend?) I'll make this a last call and do a quick Mini report on our weekend in LA, then on to our San Francisco day!

I picked Jim up at the base at about 2:15 and we were out of town by 2:30 p.m. We went over the first small mountain pass to the South, and were hit by what I called on my FB update, "snain." Big black clouds, pouring rain and snow mixed in with it! Of course I was wearing my flip flops, Jim his shorts and T-shirt, and neither one of us had a coat along - but we did have our snow scraper and tire chains!

We stopped in Woodland, just N of Sacramento to have Inn N Out for dinner (our California standard) and we made it to Stockton right at 6 hrs. We were staying in a LaQuinta that is starting to show some wear and tear, but it was clean enough and comfortable for one night. In the morning I was disappointed to find there were NO WAFFLES - only standard continental breakfast. Is this really a LaQuinta???

We hit the road by 7:55 am and stopped just before the Grapevine for gas and had lunch at Chipotle Grill (YUMMY!) The Grapevine is a winding, steep road crossing the hills between Bakersfield and the LA area. In the Summer when it is 100 plus degrees outside, you will see many a car or truck stopped along the side due to overheating. There are water stations along the way so you can get some water for your car or your person.

We were pulling up to the gate at our hosts (The Harrietts) neighborhood right at 2:20 and were quickly buzzed in. Gail was sitting on the front step waiting for us, and Caitlin came driving in right behind us - we hadn't seen her behind us. We had a nice catching up time - Leonard came home early and we got ready and headed for Caitlin's baccalaureate service at Mater Dei. (Pronounced motter day - not to be confused with Maitre D)

It was a nice service - rather confusing for us non-catholics - here is a pic of the graduate and her parents:

We went out for a delicious BBQ dinner (I forgot the name of the place) I had tri tip with sweet potatoes and a thai style cole slaw and a delicious Mai Tai. Home to bed about 11 pm

Friday Leonard went to work, Caitlin went to Disneyland with friends, and we went to lunch at Farmer Bros (yes, more burgers) with Gail and Leonard met us there. We did some shopping in the Orange Mall and came home and relaxed in the afternoon sun out on the deck. Caitlin was planning to be really late, so Jim and Leonard picked up Panda Express and we watched National Treasure until we couldn't keep our eyes open.

Sat am we were leaving the house at 7:45 am for a 9:30 grad ceremony at UC Irvine. So I was up and showered by 5 am. I had time to relax and have my coffee and be ready in plenty of time!

Some grad pics:

Caitlin was a distinguished scholar with a 4 plus GPA for all four years, while figure skating - she is going to UC Berkley school of Engineering in the Fall

After grad we ate brunch at Orange Hill Restaurant

http://www.theorangehillrestaurant.com/orangehill/

Here are a couple of my pics of the view:

No food porn, but it was delicious! Sushi and salmon and green chili pork, shrimp and crab, carving station, salads fruit - mochas and beautiful desserts with a chocolate fountain.

We were seated inside next to a window with the view - there was a deck with outside seating and we got to witness a proposal! A couple was seated at a table for two - the waiter brought a small guitarish keyboard to the guy and he sang to his sweetheart, then got down on one knee - us ladies got up and stood by the window to watch and after she said yes, the tables outside started clapping and we were clapping inside - the ladies outside pointed us out and later when we went out to see the view, we stopped to congratulate her and see the ring, (which he had put on her right hand ) A large rock with a circle of pave diamonds around it and down the band - worthy of any Bachelor episode! It was fun to witness in person.

After brunch, we went home along with Caitlin's godparents to have some red velvet cake

We all relaxed and then dropped Caitlin off at DTD at ESPN Zone for her grad night. We noticed there were no fireworks this night - not sure why We watched some performers in out in the square for a little bit, then went over to Del Taco for a little snack.

Sunday morning at 5am, Leonard and Gail picked Caitlin up, and I slept in until 8am. We spent the day letting everyone catch up on their sleep. Jim and Leonard picked up In N Out BURGERS for lunch! Caitlin had another party at a friend's house to go to. We went out to dinner at a Mexican place and then picked Caitlin up and saw POC On Stranger Tides at the Orange Center. We were excited to see it a 2nd time - loved it the first time!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Monday, I spent some time out enjoying the sun and finishing my book, Gail got some laundry done and Leonard did some "honey dos" with Jim. Caitlin went to a friends house and we took a drive over to Newport Beach and Balboa Island. This was such a fun walk - cute little shops and vacation cottages with private beaches along the cove

This fire engine was on display at the fire station - it took me several tries to get a pic, because "shirtless man" kept jumping in my view behind the truck - I think he was an exhibitionist

Some of the bay:

We took the ferry over to this Restaurant and had a glass of wine and some nachos

We walked around some more and then headed to FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES! This was to compare to IN N Out, Jim and Leonard's fav. The consensus was that it was good, but the burgers are different enough that you can't really compare them. Jim and Leonard like In N Out, but I have to say, I like FIVE GUYS burgers better, but IN N OUT fries better, and Five has not shakes. We sat and talked at home for awhile about all the changes that are coming for miss Caitlin, and for her parents and the cat!

We went to bed at 10 while they stayed up and waited for little Miss.

This morning, I was awake at 3:15 am - we were to leave NO later than 5 am to avoid getting stuck in morning traffic. It takes us 90 min with not traffic to get out of the LA area. We finished packing, had coffee in hand said our fond good - byes and were out the door by 4:45 am! I think this is a record. We had a good day - 12 hrs home. We stopped for breakfast near Bakersfield at Denny's and lunch in Redding at Jack in the Box. (No we didn't have burgers) We drove the last 4 hrs in pouring rain. When we got home it was only in the 40's. I was hoping Spring would finally be here this week, but it is projected to be cold all week again. Someone please send me some sunshine!

Now that you know what I've been up to, please let me know if you have answers to my quiz, and I'll be back to update and with answers soon!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Please tell Jim thakn you for his services!!! Cant wait to hear more hun!

You are so sweet! Please tell E the same and thank YOU - we have been in longer - 31 yrs, but you have sacrificed so much more with E being out in harm's way. I haven't wanted Jim out before this - security and all that, but this just seems like the time, and he is having a hard time with all the running at his age, so it is time. There are also cutbacks and NObama is threatening our retirement, so it is time to get while the getting is good!

It is hard to leave home here where we grew up, but not the snow! And we are excited to be near Jim's brother and DLand and the Harrietts, and you too!

Thanks for playing!

 

[nunzia]

What a nice time and such a beautiful girl! My nephew was at UC Berkley..some sort of research thing? He has a PHD in Theoretical Astro Physics and was there for a couple years but is now in Pasadena (which he says is too expensive to live in )
I'm sure you will enjoy AZ..but too hot for me..NM is toasty enough.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

What a nice time and such a beautiful girl! My nephew was at UC Berkley..some sort of research thing? He has a PHD in Theoretical Astro Physics and was there for a couple years but is now in Pasadena (which he says is too expensive to live in )
I'm sure you will enjoy AZ..but too hot for me..NM is toasty enough.

A rocket scientist!! We had a family joke for awhile because Caitlin would say she wanted to be a rocket scientist, "no reallly. I want to be a rocket scientist!" Now she is a little more open to other related fields.

Yikes! NM is less toasty than AZ? I lived near Alamogordo when I was a little girl, but don't remember much.

 

[All7OfUs]

OH gosh, Tammie, your pictures make me so homesick for Califorinia. I was weaned on In and Out Burgers, traveled the Grapevine hundreds of times, grew up with orange groves in my backyard, and made countless trips to the various marinas in San Diego, and Orange County. WAhhhh!!!

How neat to get to see the proposal! Very romantic indeed.

And WOW, your neice? must be superwoman! A 4.0+ AND figure skating! Amazing! Great update, with skads of delicious pictures!

 

[glennbo123]

Wow, that area looks really beautiful Tammie.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

OH gosh, Tammie, your pictures make me so homesick for Califorinia. I was weaned on In and Out Burgers, traveled the Grapevine hundreds of times, grew up with orange groves in my backyard, and made countless trips to the various marinas in San Diego, and Orange County. WAhhhh!!!

How neat to get to see the proposal! Very romantic indeed.

And WOW, your neice? must be superwoman! A 4.0+ AND figure skating! Amazing! Great update, with skads of delicious pictures!

I always love to visit and have the "California experience!" We always do something different.

I should clarify - I probably called Caitlin our niece, because we think of her like that - she is actually Jim's first cousin. Leonard is Jim's uncle. They are only a couple of years older than us but they started their family late, and Jim and Leonard are like brothers. We always joke that Jim and Caitlin are cousins but we have kids older than her! She is a very accomplished young lady!

Wow, that area looks really beautiful Tammie.

It was a nice treat!

 

[nunzia]

A rocket scientist!! We had a family joke for awhile because Caitlin would say she wanted to be a rocket scientist, "no reallly. I want to be a rocket scientist!" Now she is a little more open to other related fields.

Yikes! NM is less toasty than AZ? I lived near Alamogordo when I was a little girl, but don't remember much.

Holy cow..small world alert!! Must have been a military kiddo?
I do think Arizona trends hotter than Souhern NM..the highs always seem higher than us. Still and all..W A R M and although we had snow 4 times this past year..still much more moderate than Oregon. Of course if you're moving to northern AZ that would be different..I just love Flagstaff..but probably not so much in the winter

 

[YukiPhnx]

Wow, what a great time you had!! Congrats to Caitlin, she must be so excited! I'm so jealous she got to celebrate at Disneyland for grad night!!

Wow, Orange Hill Restaurant looks GORGEOUS. I love the colourful and comfortable decor of the restaurant and the food looks delish too.

Ooooh, red velvet cake. That's my new favourite flavour.

Balboa Bay....that sounds so familiar to me and I can't figure out why....

Going to answer your questions now!
1. Did I stay up to watch the Royal Wedding?
Yes, but you didn't watch all of it.

2. Did I get my butt out of bed in time to be on deck for sailing under the GG Bridge?
Yes, of course you did! You're very good at early mornings.

3. Was my friend Deborah on time to pick us up?
Yes, but just barely.

4. What was our first activity of the day?
To find something to eat?

5. What iconic sight did we see 2nd?
Um....San Fran.....a trolley car?

6. What did we eat for lunch?
Burgers

7. Where did we eat dinner?
At Palo's!

 

[LuvEeyore]

On board for your trip report. Having fun so far!!

 

[anewmac]

You and I will get a long GREAT when we eventually met.. someday LOL maybe a west coast dismoms trip!!! lol

I love that you hit up all the great burger joints. I LOVE In n Out. 5guys is OK to me. Chipotle OMG and Dennys at 3am after a few beverages is always great lol.

Ok I didnt see any pics of Jim rocken his shorts and UGGS lol

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Holy cow..small world alert!! Must have been a military kiddo?
I do think Arizona trends hotter than Souhern NM..the highs always seem higher than us. Still and all..W A R M and although we had snow 4 times this past year..still much more moderate than Oregon. Of course if you're moving to northern AZ that would be different..I just love Flagstaff..but probably not so much in the winter

Not really military, but Dad was a civilian contractor connected to military projects somehow. He left that career because of all the moving, and then he moved us alot!

Flagstaff is beautiful! We stopped there on a trip when DS was a baby. We are actually moving to the Phoenix area.

Wow, what a great time you had!! Congrats to Caitlin, she must be so excited! I'm so jealous she got to celebrate at Disneyland for grad night!!

Wow, Orange Hill Restaurant looks GORGEOUS. I love the colourful and comfortable decor of the restaurant and the food looks delish too.

Ooooh, red velvet cake. That's my new favourite flavour.

Balboa Bay....that sounds so familiar to me and I can't figure out why....

Going to answer your questions now!
1. Did I stay up to watch the Royal Wedding?
Yes, but you didn't watch all of it.

2. Did I get my butt out of bed in time to be on deck for sailing under the GG Bridge?
Yes, of course you did! You're very good at early mornings.

3. Was my friend Deborah on time to pick us up?
Yes, but just barely.

4. What was our first activity of the day?
To find something to eat?

5. What iconic sight did we see 2nd?
Um....San Fran.....a trolley car?

6. What did we eat for lunch?
Burgers

7. Where did we eat dinner?
At Palo's!

Yuki! Thanks from Caitlin
Yes, Orange Hill is a great place. Gail said it's really nice to come up there at night and sit by the fire pits for drinks.

Another player in our game! I'll be back with answers tomorrow!

On board for your trip report. Having fun so far!!

Welcome! Thank you for reading - another update tomorrow!

You and I will get a long GREAT when we eventually met.. someday LOL maybe a west coast dismoms trip!!! lol

I love that you hit up all the great burger joints. I LOVE In n Out. 5guys is OK to me. Chipotle OMG and Dennys at 3am after a few beverages is always great lol.

Ok I didnt see any pics of Jim rocken his shorts and UGGS lol

Oh, we'll probably gain 20 lbs when we do get together!

No, if he knew we would be driving through the snain he probably would have brought them!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Okay everyone, this is a last call to guess the answers to my questions. I'm just using the honor system, so please go with your gut and not someone else's. The deadline will be tomorrow afternoon at 4ish, PT, which gives those in the East an extra 3 hrs!