2009 is coming to a close. This year has given me so many firsts. This year has been one of the best.
This blog has been going on for a little over a year. It was originally intended to document the planning and eventual execution of mine and Lizzie's trip to Europe. So much more has happened and it's more than I would have ever imagined. Lizzie is really the sister I never had and I just want to thank her for being an amazing friend. You're the best hetero-life-mate a girl could ever have. You're aces, pickle!
Scout and I are now in a home. We're out of the awesome apartment we were in and now equally awesome homeowners.
I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams and went to Europe. While I didn't stuff my face with madelines, I was under the Eiffel Tower... with Scout. Well, not with Scout, but on the phone with her so she could share the moment with me. The only thing that would have made the trip perfect was with her, but I know that she will be with me in Paris when she's 18, so this was a trial run. ;)
Here's an end to a well lived year. I can't wait to see what the new year has in store. The year goes out the same way it came in: with good friends, Scout, good food, and happiness.
May your 2010 be just as excellent. Thank you all for your readership and please continue to read to share in all of mine and Lizzie's adventures!
xoxo
Emma
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Special Shout Out
To our friends from the Miller Tree Inn, thank you for helping us to embrace girlie road trips!
Amy and Brandi, you are a testament to a long lasting friendship!
:) Thank you for keeping me laughing after breakfast!
xoxo
Emma
Amy and Brandi, you are a testament to a long lasting friendship!
:) Thank you for keeping me laughing after breakfast!
xoxo
Emma
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Blogging from the Goon Docks
I realize that the Pacific Northwest is known for being rainy. But, c'mon! Enough already!! Everyone said that the drive to Astoria is just beautiful, but all we saw were clouds, fog, clouds and rain. I haven't seen the sky in 5 days. There is a light rain falling outside the hotel room right now, but the weather forecast for today calls for "mostly cloudy" after about noon. *Fingers crossed*
We are staying at the Red Lion Inn in Astoria, which is not the lap of luxury, but at least it has a history. This motel used to be called the Thunderbird Motel, and it is where the cast and crew of The Goonies stayed when they were filming here. Emma and I have decided that we are staying in Sean Astin's room. Hey, it could happen!
Today we're going on a kind of Generation Xer's movie location dream hunt. Movies filmed in and around Astoria include: The Goonies (yeah!), Kindergarten Cop, Short Circuit, and (I think) WarGames.
After today, we head for home.
Lizzie
We are staying at the Red Lion Inn in Astoria, which is not the lap of luxury, but at least it has a history. This motel used to be called the Thunderbird Motel, and it is where the cast and crew of The Goonies stayed when they were filming here. Emma and I have decided that we are staying in Sean Astin's room. Hey, it could happen!
Today we're going on a kind of Generation Xer's movie location dream hunt. Movies filmed in and around Astoria include: The Goonies (yeah!), Kindergarten Cop, Short Circuit, and (I think) WarGames.
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| Our hotel is located at the docks, and has a great view of the Astoria Bridge |
After today, we head for home.
Lizzie
Monday, November 23, 2009
IF YOU DON'T HAVE OVARIES, THIS POST WILL HOLD NO INTEREST FOR YOU.
I'm going to come clean... I'm a Twilight fan. Emma is, um, not. I love the books, and think that the movies are decent adaptations, but not great cinematic art. I started reading the series several years ago before all the craziness started. However, I am NOT a fangirl. When we started knocking around the idea for this road trip, we planned to visit Portland, Seattle and Astoria. It seemed like a great opportunity to take 101 from Seattle to Astoria, and take a quick trip through Twilight Country. Then I realized that New Moon was being released the very weekend we were going to be there. Hmmmmm.....
We boarded the ferry from Seattle at noon. It's a 45 minute trip to Bainbridge Island, which is absolutely lovely. I'm guessing it's like the Northwest version of Catalina. It is very picturesque. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from there to Port Angeles.
We arrived at Port Angeles at about 3:30, and the next showing of New Moon was at 4:45. So we bought our tickets and then headed across the street to the Dazzled by Twilight shop. Spent some time shopping for swag. The merch was definitely better than Hot Topic type stuff, but since I'm not a teen fangirl I didn't see a lot that I just had to have.
Then we wasted some time in the coffee house/internet cafe next door (for you Harry Potter types it was called Veela Cafe). Then we went back across the street to the Lincoln Theater to watch the movie. It was a good adaptation, but New Moon is my least favorite of the Twilight Saga, so I thought the movie was basically OK. The theater was on the shabby side and the screen was the size of a postage stamp. And we had some rude-ass people sitting behind us, which probably didn't enhance the movie-watching experience. I realize that a-holes can be found in movie theaters world-wide.
Where to go for dinner after watching New Moon in Port Angeles... Bella Italia of course! (Ironically, it is just two doors down from the theater) Of course, I had the mushroom ravioli. The restaurant is small, but tastefully decorated. It doesn't look anything like how I pictured it in my head.
As a side note, EVERYONE on they Olympic Peninsula is trying to cash in on Twilight. Everywhere there are signs advertising "Bella Burgers" or some other thing to get Twihards to eat at their restaurant or shop in their store. I don't blame them. This is a kind of economically depressed area, and the Twilight phenomenon is really bringing tourism to an area that never expected to become a tourist attraction.
The drive to Forks from Port Angeles was... creepy. It was VERY dark and a little foggy. We thought it was eerily similar to a scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. I assume that the Olympic Peninsula is beautiful in the daytime.
As part of this wholehearted attempt to capitalize on the books and movies, the Forks Chamber of Commerce has created some tourist sites for the Twihards, and we're staying overnight at one of them. The Miller Tree Inn was designated as the "official" Cullen house, because it most closely resembles the house as described in the books. It is an early 20th Century white farmhouse that has been converted into a Bed and Breakfast. It really caters to Twilight fans, but fairly tastefully. Emma and I have a room that has two beds, and a fireplace, and a whirlpool tub (which our hetero selves utilized by rolling up our pant-legs and sitting with our feet in the water).
The owners of the B&B were very nice people, and breakfast was yummy. The best part was talking to the other guests in the breakfast room. Two other pairs of hetero life mates (from Seattle, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Chicago) who were in town to hit the Twilight sights. We swapped stories and had some laughs before going our separate ways. Since we had a long drive ahead of us, we decided to skip some of the photo ops in town (Forks H.S., the hospital, etc.) as well as the drive to La Push.
The drive to Astoria was 4 1/2 hours, and we arrived at dusk, so most of our activities here will have to wait for tomorrow.
We boarded the ferry from Seattle at noon. It's a 45 minute trip to Bainbridge Island, which is absolutely lovely. I'm guessing it's like the Northwest version of Catalina. It is very picturesque. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from there to Port Angeles.
We arrived at Port Angeles at about 3:30, and the next showing of New Moon was at 4:45. So we bought our tickets and then headed across the street to the Dazzled by Twilight shop. Spent some time shopping for swag. The merch was definitely better than Hot Topic type stuff, but since I'm not a teen fangirl I didn't see a lot that I just had to have.
Then we wasted some time in the coffee house/internet cafe next door (for you Harry Potter types it was called Veela Cafe). Then we went back across the street to the Lincoln Theater to watch the movie. It was a good adaptation, but New Moon is my least favorite of the Twilight Saga, so I thought the movie was basically OK. The theater was on the shabby side and the screen was the size of a postage stamp. And we had some rude-ass people sitting behind us, which probably didn't enhance the movie-watching experience. I realize that a-holes can be found in movie theaters world-wide.
Where to go for dinner after watching New Moon in Port Angeles... Bella Italia of course! (Ironically, it is just two doors down from the theater) Of course, I had the mushroom ravioli. The restaurant is small, but tastefully decorated. It doesn't look anything like how I pictured it in my head.
As a side note, EVERYONE on they Olympic Peninsula is trying to cash in on Twilight. Everywhere there are signs advertising "Bella Burgers" or some other thing to get Twihards to eat at their restaurant or shop in their store. I don't blame them. This is a kind of economically depressed area, and the Twilight phenomenon is really bringing tourism to an area that never expected to become a tourist attraction.
The drive to Forks from Port Angeles was... creepy. It was VERY dark and a little foggy. We thought it was eerily similar to a scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure. I assume that the Olympic Peninsula is beautiful in the daytime.
As part of this wholehearted attempt to capitalize on the books and movies, the Forks Chamber of Commerce has created some tourist sites for the Twihards, and we're staying overnight at one of them. The Miller Tree Inn was designated as the "official" Cullen house, because it most closely resembles the house as described in the books. It is an early 20th Century white farmhouse that has been converted into a Bed and Breakfast. It really caters to Twilight fans, but fairly tastefully. Emma and I have a room that has two beds, and a fireplace, and a whirlpool tub (which our hetero selves utilized by rolling up our pant-legs and sitting with our feet in the water).
The owners of the B&B were very nice people, and breakfast was yummy. The best part was talking to the other guests in the breakfast room. Two other pairs of hetero life mates (from Seattle, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Chicago) who were in town to hit the Twilight sights. We swapped stories and had some laughs before going our separate ways. Since we had a long drive ahead of us, we decided to skip some of the photo ops in town (Forks H.S., the hospital, etc.) as well as the drive to La Push.
The drive to Astoria was 4 1/2 hours, and we arrived at dusk, so most of our activities here will have to wait for tomorrow.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Library girls do... Um... Stuffs
Everything. Lizzie and I kicked ass doing everything.
There was crazy snow coming down at Mt.Shasta and we ended up putting chains on the car. This is the part where I get really excited about putting on the chains.. but we ended up paying for help with the chains. Lizzie and I were supposed to practice putting the chains on but had been distracted by shopping.
We drove up the freeway towards Yreka at 35 MPH until it looked decent enough to take the chains off. We ended up in Weed. Oh yes...Weed!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Seattle
Got to Seattle before noon. Checked into our hotel (a Holiday Inn, which is OK, but not as nice as the boutique hotel in Portland). Our first stop was Voula's Offshore Cafe, which was featured on "Diner's Drive-ins and Dives." It did not disappoint! Two words: Greek Hobo. YUM! Guy was totally on the mark.
Check out this video-- Emma had the Greek Hobo and I had Smokey the Salmon. Voula's is exactly what the video shows: both of her sons were working, and we even sat at the same spot at the counter where Guy sat. What the video doesn't show is their biscuits and gravy. We didn't order it, but it looked wonderful! Three heaping ladles of gravy. NOM NOM!
After brunch we went to the Seattle Center, which is where the Space Needle is located. We did not feel the need to go up to the observation deck. Right next to the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum. At first we weren't quite sure if this was something we wanted to do with our limited time in Seattle. It was really fun! I came to the realization that I am a complete dork!
Then we made our way to Pike Place Market to watch men throw fish. We only had an hour before the vendors closed, which is too bad because the market is really fascinating! Then we had a lovely dinner with Emma's friend.
Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!
~Lizzie~
Check out this video-- Emma had the Greek Hobo and I had Smokey the Salmon. Voula's is exactly what the video shows: both of her sons were working, and we even sat at the same spot at the counter where Guy sat. What the video doesn't show is their biscuits and gravy. We didn't order it, but it looked wonderful! Three heaping ladles of gravy. NOM NOM!
After brunch we went to the Seattle Center, which is where the Space Needle is located. We did not feel the need to go up to the observation deck. Right next to the Space Needle is the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum. At first we weren't quite sure if this was something we wanted to do with our limited time in Seattle. It was really fun! I came to the realization that I am a complete dork!
Then we made our way to Pike Place Market to watch men throw fish. We only had an hour before the vendors closed, which is too bad because the market is really fascinating! Then we had a lovely dinner with Emma's friend.
Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow!
~Lizzie~
Friday photos
Up early again. Bleg. We were planning having breakfast at a joint that I saw on DDD. I was dying to try their Amaretto French Toast), but instead we're going to try Voodoo Doughnut again. None of us are exceptionally hungry, and time is a factor this morning.
Here are a few pics from yesterday:
Here are a few pics from yesterday:
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| Joint that we found near Mt. Shasta. Bwahahahahaha! |
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| Weed. they had a whole souvenir shop with T-shirts that said "I *heart*Weed." Funny Stuff. |
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| A light dustin. We put the chains on (...OK, we got some help with that), and then took them off pretty quickly when it became apparent they weren't necessary. |
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| View of downtown Portland from our hotel. |
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| Powell's = happiness |
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| Super awesome books I bought @ Powell's |
No left turns... AGAIN!
Yes cats and kittens, Lizzie, Scout and I will be leaving for Seattle soon. Scout will be leaving us for this leg of our trip. She will be spending the Thankgiving weekend with her dad.
Last night we attempted to go to Voodoo Donut. This did not work out as there was a fatty line... and no place to park. There was a lot that was $2.00 per half hour. When we went in it, the guy told us the fee would be $10. Oh. Hell. Naw! There was nothing on the parking sign that said $10.Lizzie and I agreed that sheisty practices were in play and left the lot. Since we are sticking by the "we stay together" theory, no donuts were had because we couldn't be together. We're going to try again this morning.
Portland is a gorgeous city. The downtown area, where we're staying, is vibrant and glorious, There's an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants in very pretty buildings. I love it!
PS: Portland hates left turns. We ended up driving over 10 minutes out of our way because I couldn't turn around!!!
Last night we attempted to go to Voodoo Donut. This did not work out as there was a fatty line... and no place to park. There was a lot that was $2.00 per half hour. When we went in it, the guy told us the fee would be $10. Oh. Hell. Naw! There was nothing on the parking sign that said $10.Lizzie and I agreed that sheisty practices were in play and left the lot. Since we are sticking by the "we stay together" theory, no donuts were had because we couldn't be together. We're going to try again this morning.
Portland is a gorgeous city. The downtown area, where we're staying, is vibrant and glorious, There's an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants in very pretty buildings. I love it!
PS: Portland hates left turns. We ended up driving over 10 minutes out of our way because I couldn't turn around!!!
Friday, November 20, 2009
A quick recap of today's travels:
We were making really good time until the snow flurries started at Mt Shasta. We decided to put on the snow chains.... and found out that we suck at putting on snow chains. We didn't keep them on for long before the snow started to thin out, and was finally turned into rain. This did put us a bit behind schedule.
We made it to Portland by about 5 p.m., and discovered that it is impossible to make a left turn anywhere in this city. Seriously. San Francisco has nothing on Portland. We drove in circles for 30 minutes before we could get to our hotel.
After a brief rest we headed out to a restaurant called The Screen Door, which came highly recommended by a friend of Emma's. Their menu is a "celebration" of Southern food. The food was divine and plentiful! After dinner we made our way to Powell's Books, which is a Portland institution. Powell's ROCKS. It is HUGE, and they sell both new and used, so there are all sorts of amazing finds there. They had an ENTIRE WALL (probably 60 shelves) of Tudor history. WOW!
After the bookstore we tried to find Voodoo Doughnut, another famous Portland landmark. Again we were hampered by the no left turn issue, and ended up going 5 miles out of the way before we were able to turn around. We finally located the shop, only to find a huge line snaking its way down the street. After a long and exhausting day, we decided to give Voodoo Donuts a shot in the a.m.
Sleep beckons... will try to post photos when we find the time.
~Lizzie~
We were making really good time until the snow flurries started at Mt Shasta. We decided to put on the snow chains.... and found out that we suck at putting on snow chains. We didn't keep them on for long before the snow started to thin out, and was finally turned into rain. This did put us a bit behind schedule.
We made it to Portland by about 5 p.m., and discovered that it is impossible to make a left turn anywhere in this city. Seriously. San Francisco has nothing on Portland. We drove in circles for 30 minutes before we could get to our hotel.
After a brief rest we headed out to a restaurant called The Screen Door, which came highly recommended by a friend of Emma's. Their menu is a "celebration" of Southern food. The food was divine and plentiful! After dinner we made our way to Powell's Books, which is a Portland institution. Powell's ROCKS. It is HUGE, and they sell both new and used, so there are all sorts of amazing finds there. They had an ENTIRE WALL (probably 60 shelves) of Tudor history. WOW!
After the bookstore we tried to find Voodoo Doughnut, another famous Portland landmark. Again we were hampered by the no left turn issue, and ended up going 5 miles out of the way before we were able to turn around. We finally located the shop, only to find a huge line snaking its way down the street. After a long and exhausting day, we decided to give Voodoo Donuts a shot in the a.m.
Sleep beckons... will try to post photos when we find the time.
~Lizzie~
Like the postal service, "through rain and sleet and snow..."
We made it to Portland. Will update on the arduous journey after dinner.
Emma & Lizzie
Emma & Lizzie
*Rolls over, hits snooze button*
It's 4 a.m. This is the part where I think that I don't really want to go anywhere, and would give anything for a couple more hours of sleep. We should arrive in Portland between 2-3 p.m.
~Lizzie~
~Lizzie~
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Supersonic Road Trip!!!
Scout, Lizzie and I will be on our way to Seattle a week from today! Come follow our planning and travels here!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Paranormal Activity
Go see it...
In the daytime.
And if first person camera films make you a little woozy, take something for that. It's not as bad as Cloverfield or Blair Witch though.
I'm now going to sleep with the lights on.
xoxo
Emma
In the daytime.
And if first person camera films make you a little woozy, take something for that. It's not as bad as Cloverfield or Blair Witch though.
I'm now going to sleep with the lights on.
xoxo
Emma
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Stormy Weather
On a day no different than today, about 6 months ago, Lizzie and I were on our way to Versailles. We were on a train that was leaving Paris and whizzing towards a destination about 40 minutes out from Notre Dame. The weather was gloomy while we waited on the platform. Due to my (horrible) Metro map reading skills, we went the opposite direction for about 5 minutes, waited at a station for about 10 more minutes before we were finally headed in the correct direction.
While the trip itself was ordinary, the experience was extrordinary. The Metro is nothing like the London Tube station. Just a day before we had left transit that was glowing white with cleanliness, a friendly voice that reminded us to "Mind the Gap", doors that opened on their own and polite hushed conversation that added a gentle hum to the travels. One of the things that stood out to me was the number of people that read on the train. I love the sounds of people reading the paper, the crinkle of the information was comforting to me. Granted, free dailies were given at the entrances of the Tube, but it was news nonetheless... and it was awesome to see people reading.
The Metro is a completely different animal. The rail cars weren't all new. They were dingy and rickity. I encountered a newer train on my trip back from Pere Lachaisse. That was about it. The train to Versaille was a 2 story train. Urban, musty odor.... all the things that were opposite of the London tube. There were a variety of beggars on the train. The most memorable of these was the accordion player. Ahh... the accordion. I am a sucker for the squeeze box (yes... I know how bad this reads!) This accordion player was like no other I had heard. I swooned at the music as it filled the car with joy and Parisian love. I tipped that man. Oh yes.. I threw Euro in his hat as a thank you for the audible memory.
The rain started mid-way to our destination. Falling slowly at first and turning into a full monsoon when we stepped foot on the Versailles platform. We had no real choice but to walk the half mile or so to the Palais.
It was a biting rain. Stinging my face with needles, soaking my jeans, my boots and numbing my hands. I chose that day to look my best... and it melted away in the monsoon. It knocked me down a couple pegs. Here's a link where you can see a horrible picture of me looking like a sullen Emo kid with her hair all soaking wet. My pant legs sopping and my only dry part was where my jacket covered me. Basically, from my knees down and from my neck, up.
I wouldn't trade it for anything, though. It was France and I was not at work. I was on paid vacation and there were people working. I was using my elementary French... and people did not understand... or at least, they were polite about not understanding me.
My goals in life are simple. In the grand scheme of things those help me to shape my life through rich experiences. This may or may not be common knowledge, but during my trip to Europe, I cried a lot. In fact, I cried more than once a day. This wasn't for being sad, but more because I was so overwhelmed by my girlie feelings, that they expressed themselves in ocular leaking. I was so grateful for the chance to live my dream that I felt so happy every day.
So the monsoon rain today, doesn't get me down. It's a happy reminder of the dream that came true.
xoxo
Emma
I wouldn't trade it for anything, though. It was France and I was not at work. I was on paid vacation and there were people working. I was using my elementary French... and people did not understand... or at least, they were polite about not understanding me.
My goals in life are simple. In the grand scheme of things those help me to shape my life through rich experiences. This may or may not be common knowledge, but during my trip to Europe, I cried a lot. In fact, I cried more than once a day. This wasn't for being sad, but more because I was so overwhelmed by my girlie feelings, that they expressed themselves in ocular leaking. I was so grateful for the chance to live my dream that I felt so happy every day.
So the monsoon rain today, doesn't get me down. It's a happy reminder of the dream that came true.
xoxo
Emma
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Outside Lands-inside scoop
VIP!! My brother gifted me with these tix for my birthday. I can honestly say that I love "experiences" as a gift. It's everything I love as a present.
We parked about 8 blocks away froM the venue; but it's free and we're both cheap. The walk was lovely. There are a lot of gorgeous and quaint homes on the way. A few were run down, but it is he casualty of the times. A wise person recently told me "times is tough". Indeed, they are.
xoxo Emma
We parked about 8 blocks away froM the venue; but it's free and we're both cheap. The walk was lovely. There are a lot of gorgeous and quaint homes on the way. A few were run down, but it is he casualty of the times. A wise person recently told me "times is tough". Indeed, they are.
xoxo Emma
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Taking Care of the Elderly...
I remember when....
Oy... those words really take a toll on you when you're in your 30s and rolling with friends / co-workers who are in their 20s. Recently when Lizzie and I went to the Gay Pride Parade with Nick and Taylor, they mentioned how Trix was changing their look into round shapes.
*blank stare*
Lizzie and I went into a crazy trip down cereal lane and reminiced about round Trix. Nick and Taylor have only known Trix in their "fruity" format. We then schooled them on other "vintage" cereals and their existence pre-1985. I know Lizzie felt old... because I felt like a dinosaur.
I was talking with a friend via FB yesterday and she mentioned a playground encounter she had. There was a mom with a 3 year old at the park. The kid had all his clothes on backwards. My friend went up to the other mom and said "So, you're kid's a big fan of Kriss Kross, huh?"
Shot down and made to feel old... all in one fell swoop.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Yes... I did sit out and wait for Harry Potter
Oh yes... it's that time again. Mid July rolls around and the release of the newest Harry Potter serial arrives.
Previous midnight showings of this film found me in line alone.... with other Pot(ter) heads. Other people weren't as fanatical as me, I guess. I'm not going to say I dressed up... though I will leak that when the 2 installments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out.... I plan on going all out for those. Yes, I'm talking nerd city. This, though, is for another place and time when I plan said (embarrassing) outfit.
This time, I wasn't as pathetic and was able to go with Scout and Lizzie. My new, local theatre didn't have a ton of people as most went to the old standby in the neighboring town. We were able to get there about 2 hours before the movie and set up "camp". A beach blanket, junk candy and a deck of cards lasted...oh... 15 minutes before the whole line moved and we were ushered inside. Let me just say, that this theatre is the smartest theatre ever! They sold tickets for 12:01, 12:11 and 12:21. There were different lines for each showing so everyone wasn't all smooshed together.
Scout and I saw some friends in line and their little boy was dressed up as HP! Too Cute! Again, let me say, I fully plan on costumes for the final 2 movies!
I don't want to give too much away, but it was one of the better Potter films in the series. A squeal worthy part for Lizzie and I was watching London getting decimated by Dementors. I don't like bridges. At all. I had a hard time walking over the Millennium Bridge on our way to the Globe Theatre. I scurried across quickly. That bridge was destroyed in the film... and there were people on it! That scene.... I wasn't so keen on and I will be leery crossing it again on my next trip to London.
Scout and I saw some friends in line and their little boy was dressed up as HP! Too Cute! Again, let me say, I fully plan on costumes for the final 2 movies!
I don't want to give too much away, but it was one of the better Potter films in the series. A squeal worthy part for Lizzie and I was watching London getting decimated by Dementors. I don't like bridges. At all. I had a hard time walking over the Millennium Bridge on our way to the Globe Theatre. I scurried across quickly. That bridge was destroyed in the film... and there were people on it! That scene.... I wasn't so keen on and I will be leery crossing it again on my next trip to London.
Emma
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Straight Girls, Gay Pride
As aforementioned by Lizzie, we went to the Gay Pride Parade a couple weekends ago. What an amazing experience to be surrounded by so much love. Thank goodness I was wearing sunglasses... because I actually did tear up because the vibe was beautiful.
Nick and Taylor stayed the night at my place. We had intended on making shirts. But... being the old codger driver, I faded quickly. As a group, we managed to polish off 2 bags of beef jerky. BOEUF!!
We were able to get a nice early start for the 11 AM start time for the parade. I'm usually the driver when it comes to the Bay Area. I'm the one who enjoys the challenge of getting lost and (eventually) found in the City. The morning was beautiful. Compared to the heat of our town, the respite of San Francisco's crisp breeze was a welcome break.
Let me mention...I had never been to Pride, so I was excited to see hot gay men and drag queens (aren't we all?). Unfortunately, one of the first things I saw was a fully naked man at the Nudist booth. *gah*
I won't go too much into the parade, as Lizzie has covered it well, but the parade was LONG. Everybody had a float. Sometimes no float and people walking with signs. Highlights of said groups: Virgin America Airlines, Diesel, Anti-Circumcism, and Jews for Gays... and no, the last 2 groups marched nowhere near one another. As Lizzie mentioned we saw *swoon* Gavin Newsom. He's dreamy. He also touched Lizzie's hand. All I got to see was a blue, naked indian with a small dingle.
While waiting for the parade, Nick had pointed out some people sitting on the Port-O-Lets. He said "Damn, people shouldn't be sitting on that! What if it breaks or something?" Sure enough... about 4 hours later... one did. There was loud CRACK sound and when we turned around, some guy was trying to hold himself up with his arms to avoid falling knee high in waste. People were laughing and pointing. Lizzie and I were amazed. We don't see that kind of thing here (though... there are times that people certainly smell that way). The guy eventually fell in. When he stumbled out of the cubicle, people were laughing and pointing. He was shirtless and you could see where he got some bad plastic burn from the fall.
It's a shame I didn't get more pictures. There were some characters out in force that day and it would've been awesome to show them here! For now, I'm content with the experience I had. Will I go again? Umm... only if I had an umbrella. I got a sash tan from my shoulder bag.
:)
xoxo
Emma
Nick and Taylor stayed the night at my place. We had intended on making shirts. But... being the old codger driver, I faded quickly. As a group, we managed to polish off 2 bags of beef jerky. BOEUF!!
We were able to get a nice early start for the 11 AM start time for the parade. I'm usually the driver when it comes to the Bay Area. I'm the one who enjoys the challenge of getting lost and (eventually) found in the City. The morning was beautiful. Compared to the heat of our town, the respite of San Francisco's crisp breeze was a welcome break.
Let me mention...I had never been to Pride, so I was excited to see hot gay men and drag queens (aren't we all?). Unfortunately, one of the first things I saw was a fully naked man at the Nudist booth. *gah*
I won't go too much into the parade, as Lizzie has covered it well, but the parade was LONG. Everybody had a float. Sometimes no float and people walking with signs. Highlights of said groups: Virgin America Airlines, Diesel, Anti-Circumcism, and Jews for Gays... and no, the last 2 groups marched nowhere near one another. As Lizzie mentioned we saw *swoon* Gavin Newsom. He's dreamy. He also touched Lizzie's hand. All I got to see was a blue, naked indian with a small dingle.
While waiting for the parade, Nick had pointed out some people sitting on the Port-O-Lets. He said "Damn, people shouldn't be sitting on that! What if it breaks or something?" Sure enough... about 4 hours later... one did. There was loud CRACK sound and when we turned around, some guy was trying to hold himself up with his arms to avoid falling knee high in waste. People were laughing and pointing. Lizzie and I were amazed. We don't see that kind of thing here (though... there are times that people certainly smell that way). The guy eventually fell in. When he stumbled out of the cubicle, people were laughing and pointing. He was shirtless and you could see where he got some bad plastic burn from the fall.
It's a shame I didn't get more pictures. There were some characters out in force that day and it would've been awesome to show them here! For now, I'm content with the experience I had. Will I go again? Umm... only if I had an umbrella. I got a sash tan from my shoulder bag.
:)
xoxo
Emma
Long time, no blog (the final chapter)/ aka "Being lazy in Monterey"
This is the third and final installment of this series of blog entries. I'll try to make it short and sweet. This past Sunday/Monday was a Girls Trip to the beach at Monterey. Emma and I and my sis-in-law Alice.
We stayed at the Best Western Beach Resort Hotel, which is in an absolutely perfect location, right on the beach. Although we didn't have an oceanview room, our lodgings were fantastic. The hotel has been recently renovated, and there were very nice amenities, including a 40" flat-screen Phillips TV with snazzy cable and electronically-operated blackout screen on the large bay windows. I would guess that the oceanview rooms are totally worth the money. It was worth it just to have a room where you could walk out the door, and down the stairs and be on the beach. The beach itself was quiet and clean.
Weather on Sunday was OK, but not great. Mostly cloudy, so that when the sun peeked out from the clouds all was glorious and warm-- but cold and breezy when it went away. In a lame attempt to even out the t-shirt tan I received in SF on Pride Day, I did get a bit sunburned again. Oops.
After the beach we headed over to Cannery Row for dinner and shopping. We decided to try a
pub called Captain Bullwhacker's for dinner... mostly I was drawn in by their $26.99 steak and lobster special. The food was good for the cost, and Alice really enjoyed her shrimp scampi.
It was relaxing to just stroll down the Row, browsing in whatever shops were still open late on a Sunday evening. I was on a hunt for any locations that were featured in Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row," which I had read only the week before. The Cannery Row of today is, of course, very different from the downtrodden 1930s
locale of Steinbeck's day. Some original buildings do still exist, and I wanted to find Doc's "Western Biological" building, where one of the main characters lived and worked. I didn't find it, but I did find the building where "Lee Chong's" market was (the Wing Chong building, now a seashell store) and the "La Ida" bar (now a bakery/ice cream store called Austino's).
Monday was absolutely perfect. Lovely weather, and huge waves that came crashing in one after another. Usually I love to get in the water and try to bodysurf... well, my sad attempts at bodysurfing, anyway. I had ventured into the water Sunday despite the cloudy weather, and I really, REALLY wanted to go frolick (yes, frolick) in the waves that were crashing around on Monday. But since we had checked out, and didn't have a hotel room- specifically a shower- anymore, I had to abstain. There's nothing worse than driving home with sand in places that sand ought not to be. So no swimming for me on Monday.
After a couple of hours of relaxing on the beach, we packed up and headed up to Santa Cruz, where we had dinner at my favorite restaurant on the Wharf, Gilbert's- home of the nom nom
Hot Crab Bake, and then spent a little bit of time at the Boardwalk. I love the Cave Train. Yes, it is for little kids. Yes it is cheesy. But I love how horribly campy it is. I was also planning on riding the carousel a few times. BEST. CAROUSEL. EVER. Reaching out to grab iron rings from a mechanical arm and then hurling them at a clown face is great fun. We were disappointed, though, that the ring machine kept breaking down. :( So we decided to head home.
I love the beach. I love the ocean. The Pacific Ocean may be cold,
but I feel very fortunate to live in California, despite the current problems in the state government. I can't fathom that there are people in this country who have never seen the ocean, have never stood in the water waist-deep so that the surf crashes down all around you. Just watching the waves is so calming to me, that it serves as a kind of reset button when life gets stressful.
Now if I could just get a camping trip to Yosemite off the ground.....
~Lizzie~
(OK, not so short)
We stayed at the Best Western Beach Resort Hotel, which is in an absolutely perfect location, right on the beach. Although we didn't have an oceanview room, our lodgings were fantastic. The hotel has been recently renovated, and there were very nice amenities, including a 40" flat-screen Phillips TV with snazzy cable and electronically-operated blackout screen on the large bay windows. I would guess that the oceanview rooms are totally worth the money. It was worth it just to have a room where you could walk out the door, and down the stairs and be on the beach. The beach itself was quiet and clean.Weather on Sunday was OK, but not great. Mostly cloudy, so that when the sun peeked out from the clouds all was glorious and warm-- but cold and breezy when it went away. In a lame attempt to even out the t-shirt tan I received in SF on Pride Day, I did get a bit sunburned again. Oops.
After the beach we headed over to Cannery Row for dinner and shopping. We decided to try a
pub called Captain Bullwhacker's for dinner... mostly I was drawn in by their $26.99 steak and lobster special. The food was good for the cost, and Alice really enjoyed her shrimp scampi.It was relaxing to just stroll down the Row, browsing in whatever shops were still open late on a Sunday evening. I was on a hunt for any locations that were featured in Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row," which I had read only the week before. The Cannery Row of today is, of course, very different from the downtrodden 1930s
locale of Steinbeck's day. Some original buildings do still exist, and I wanted to find Doc's "Western Biological" building, where one of the main characters lived and worked. I didn't find it, but I did find the building where "Lee Chong's" market was (the Wing Chong building, now a seashell store) and the "La Ida" bar (now a bakery/ice cream store called Austino's).Monday was absolutely perfect. Lovely weather, and huge waves that came crashing in one after another. Usually I love to get in the water and try to bodysurf... well, my sad attempts at bodysurfing, anyway. I had ventured into the water Sunday despite the cloudy weather, and I really, REALLY wanted to go frolick (yes, frolick) in the waves that were crashing around on Monday. But since we had checked out, and didn't have a hotel room- specifically a shower- anymore, I had to abstain. There's nothing worse than driving home with sand in places that sand ought not to be. So no swimming for me on Monday.
After a couple of hours of relaxing on the beach, we packed up and headed up to Santa Cruz, where we had dinner at my favorite restaurant on the Wharf, Gilbert's- home of the nom nom
Hot Crab Bake, and then spent a little bit of time at the Boardwalk. I love the Cave Train. Yes, it is for little kids. Yes it is cheesy. But I love how horribly campy it is. I was also planning on riding the carousel a few times. BEST. CAROUSEL. EVER. Reaching out to grab iron rings from a mechanical arm and then hurling them at a clown face is great fun. We were disappointed, though, that the ring machine kept breaking down. :( So we decided to head home.I love the beach. I love the ocean. The Pacific Ocean may be cold,
but I feel very fortunate to live in California, despite the current problems in the state government. I can't fathom that there are people in this country who have never seen the ocean, have never stood in the water waist-deep so that the surf crashes down all around you. Just watching the waves is so calming to me, that it serves as a kind of reset button when life gets stressful.Now if I could just get a camping trip to Yosemite off the ground.....
~Lizzie~
(OK, not so short)
Long time, no blog (part two)/ aka "Clapton is God"
So the last post was about adventures in San Francisco on June 28. The next day, June 29, I was back in the Bay Area to make good on this year's Father's Day gift to my dad.
I took the day off from work so that we could hit the road as early as possible. Our first stop was McCovey's Restaurant in Walnut Creek. Owned by San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey, it is a fabulous restaurant for baseball fans, and a must for Giants fans. The atmosphere is casual dining, surrounded by baseball memorabilia. Somehow, I always get seated at the "Pete Rose" table. The restaurant is laid out like Pac Bell/SBC/AT&T Park, with red brick walls and booths designed to resemble baseball gloves. It's really fan-flippin-tastic! The food is basic homestyle comfort food at reasonable prices. I ordered a BBQ plate with beef brisket, pulled pork, beans, cole slaw & potato salad. We watched the Giants game on the big screen. Good times.
After dinner we headed to the Oracle Arena in Oakland to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood in concert. I'm not really a fan of Winwood... I remember a couple of hits he had in the 80s. I never knew that he and Clapton were in a band in the 70s called "Blind Faith." We were really there to see guitar god Clapton. I've seen a lot of classic British rock acts live over the years: McCartney, Elton John, The Who. McCartney & Elton are very well-produced, kind of sing-along greatest hits spectacles. Who concerts (well, only Roger & Pete now) are high-energy and very LOUD.
This concert was a very subdued, all-business affair. In fact, I've never been to a concert where the headliners bantered with the audience so little. The only words Clapton spoke were, "Thank you!" and "Steve Winwood, everyone!" When the set started, they just walked on stage, and started playing. He doesn't prance around the stage, or windmill like Townshend. --I'm not saying that isn't enjoyable-- He is the consummate professional. He just plays the music. The most movement on-stage was his near constant, yet still subtle, foot-tapping. He just stands there, and makes his guitar sing. He plays with effortless ease. As the graffiti that began to spring up in Tube stations around London in the 1960s once proclaimed....Clapton is God.
I'll be honest, I didn't know much of the set list. I'm sure many of the songs were from their "Blind Faith" days. The songs I did know: After Midnight, Forever Man, Cocaine, and Layla (acoustic). My dad can now die happy-- he got to see Eric Clapton play "Layla" live.
~Lizzie~
Here's a video I found on YouTube. No, our seats were not nearly this good.
I took the day off from work so that we could hit the road as early as possible. Our first stop was McCovey's Restaurant in Walnut Creek. Owned by San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey, it is a fabulous restaurant for baseball fans, and a must for Giants fans. The atmosphere is casual dining, surrounded by baseball memorabilia. Somehow, I always get seated at the "Pete Rose" table. The restaurant is laid out like Pac Bell/SBC/AT&T Park, with red brick walls and booths designed to resemble baseball gloves. It's really fan-flippin-tastic! The food is basic homestyle comfort food at reasonable prices. I ordered a BBQ plate with beef brisket, pulled pork, beans, cole slaw & potato salad. We watched the Giants game on the big screen. Good times.
After dinner we headed to the Oracle Arena in Oakland to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood in concert. I'm not really a fan of Winwood... I remember a couple of hits he had in the 80s. I never knew that he and Clapton were in a band in the 70s called "Blind Faith." We were really there to see guitar god Clapton. I've seen a lot of classic British rock acts live over the years: McCartney, Elton John, The Who. McCartney & Elton are very well-produced, kind of sing-along greatest hits spectacles. Who concerts (well, only Roger & Pete now) are high-energy and very LOUD.
This concert was a very subdued, all-business affair. In fact, I've never been to a concert where the headliners bantered with the audience so little. The only words Clapton spoke were, "Thank you!" and "Steve Winwood, everyone!" When the set started, they just walked on stage, and started playing. He doesn't prance around the stage, or windmill like Townshend. --I'm not saying that isn't enjoyable-- He is the consummate professional. He just plays the music. The most movement on-stage was his near constant, yet still subtle, foot-tapping. He just stands there, and makes his guitar sing. He plays with effortless ease. As the graffiti that began to spring up in Tube stations around London in the 1960s once proclaimed....Clapton is God.
I'll be honest, I didn't know much of the set list. I'm sure many of the songs were from their "Blind Faith" days. The songs I did know: After Midnight, Forever Man, Cocaine, and Layla (acoustic). My dad can now die happy-- he got to see Eric Clapton play "Layla" live.
~Lizzie~
Here's a video I found on YouTube. No, our seats were not nearly this good.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Long time, no blog (part one)
I don't know if this is a sign of aging, or not-- but it seems like every time I do something fun it takes me a week or so to recover.
Lame.
The last three weeks have been filled with fun excursions and entertainment, and I'm exhausted! I may spend this whole weekend napping. So this is the first of three belated blog entries to catch up.
SF Pride Day
June 28 Emma, Nick, Taylor & I headed to San Francisco to witness the spectacle that is the Gay Pride Parade. Now, I'm not a big fan of parades. Watching people walk down the street waving is not my idea of fun. In fact, when parade time comes around at Disneyland, I think that's prime attraction-riding time. The only parade I never miss is the Main Street Electrical Parade. But this was Nick's SF Pride Debut, and I'm always game for having a new travel experience. That, and I figured there would be many interesting sights at this parade. I expected assless chaps and drag queens galore.
We secured a decent, but not perfect, spot along the barricade near the end of the parade route (which means we waited a looooong time for the parade to reach us). We coveted a spot on the other side of the street, but the SFPD had blocked off our path, so we looked longingly at the folks on the shady side of the street. Yes, we were in full sun. Fortunately I had sunblock in my purse. Unfortunately, it was only SPF 30... so we all got sunburned anyway. Poor Emma was wearing her bag slung across her chest, and ended up looking like Miss America fell asleep in the tanning booth with her sash still on ;)
The Pride Parade takes forEVER. First were the Dykes on Bikes (topless lesbians, ahoy!), then the Mikes on Bikes (assless chaps!), and eventually the Tykes on Bikes (awwwww). Then it was like 2 hours of people walking, holding signs and waving. There was a serious lack of drag queens, which was kind of disappointing. And the lesbian girls on my left were pissing me off by continuously blowing weed smoke in my face. Nasty.
Many floats were playing Michael Jackson music, which got a roar from the crowd, and then the news started to go around that Billy Mays had died. I got a text from my mom that Willie Mays had died. Thank goodness I knew she was wrong.
But the BEST part of my day was getting a high five from S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom. OMG, he is just dreamy. I would vote for him for governor just to watch press conferences with little hearts in my eyes.
The other best part of my morning was getting a rocket pop from the Mexican ice cream push cart guy-- and, no, that is NOT a euphemism. And there was a guy walking through the crowd wearing a Native American headdress... and nothing else.... and he was painted blue from head to toe...including his dingle. Sadly, he was not good looking, and I am not posting pics here.
After the parade ended we headed for lunch. Emma and I are fans of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network, and we have a deal to try to visit as many of the local establishments that have been featured on DDD as possible. We've already been to Taylor's Automatic Refresher at the Ferry Building. This day saw us at the Grubstake Diner, which is inside an old train car, and features burgers and Portuguese food. The garlic bread and linguica was delish. I ordered a burger and fries, which were decent.
The rest of our day in the City was spent shopping, and I think that by the time we got home we were all pretty spent, even the young 'uns.
Enjoy the photos,
~Lizzie~
Nick
He, he
*swoon*
Frau Blucher!
Ye-ah!
Drag queens
Lame.
The last three weeks have been filled with fun excursions and entertainment, and I'm exhausted! I may spend this whole weekend napping. So this is the first of three belated blog entries to catch up.
SF Pride Day
June 28 Emma, Nick, Taylor & I headed to San Francisco to witness the spectacle that is the Gay Pride Parade. Now, I'm not a big fan of parades. Watching people walk down the street waving is not my idea of fun. In fact, when parade time comes around at Disneyland, I think that's prime attraction-riding time. The only parade I never miss is the Main Street Electrical Parade. But this was Nick's SF Pride Debut, and I'm always game for having a new travel experience. That, and I figured there would be many interesting sights at this parade. I expected assless chaps and drag queens galore.
We secured a decent, but not perfect, spot along the barricade near the end of the parade route (which means we waited a looooong time for the parade to reach us). We coveted a spot on the other side of the street, but the SFPD had blocked off our path, so we looked longingly at the folks on the shady side of the street. Yes, we were in full sun. Fortunately I had sunblock in my purse. Unfortunately, it was only SPF 30... so we all got sunburned anyway. Poor Emma was wearing her bag slung across her chest, and ended up looking like Miss America fell asleep in the tanning booth with her sash still on ;)
The Pride Parade takes forEVER. First were the Dykes on Bikes (topless lesbians, ahoy!), then the Mikes on Bikes (assless chaps!), and eventually the Tykes on Bikes (awwwww). Then it was like 2 hours of people walking, holding signs and waving. There was a serious lack of drag queens, which was kind of disappointing. And the lesbian girls on my left were pissing me off by continuously blowing weed smoke in my face. Nasty.
Many floats were playing Michael Jackson music, which got a roar from the crowd, and then the news started to go around that Billy Mays had died. I got a text from my mom that Willie Mays had died. Thank goodness I knew she was wrong.
But the BEST part of my day was getting a high five from S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom. OMG, he is just dreamy. I would vote for him for governor just to watch press conferences with little hearts in my eyes.
The other best part of my morning was getting a rocket pop from the Mexican ice cream push cart guy-- and, no, that is NOT a euphemism. And there was a guy walking through the crowd wearing a Native American headdress... and nothing else.... and he was painted blue from head to toe...including his dingle. Sadly, he was not good looking, and I am not posting pics here.
After the parade ended we headed for lunch. Emma and I are fans of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network, and we have a deal to try to visit as many of the local establishments that have been featured on DDD as possible. We've already been to Taylor's Automatic Refresher at the Ferry Building. This day saw us at the Grubstake Diner, which is inside an old train car, and features burgers and Portuguese food. The garlic bread and linguica was delish. I ordered a burger and fries, which were decent.
The rest of our day in the City was spent shopping, and I think that by the time we got home we were all pretty spent, even the young 'uns.
Enjoy the photos,
~Lizzie~
Nick
He, he
*swoon*
Frau Blucher!
Ye-ah!
Drag queens
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Fear the Sarge.... then watch her cry later part 1
My dad called me yesterday morning at about 6:45 AM to tell me that my mom was on the ground and couldn't get up. I had only awoken about 10 minutes before, but I scrambled out of bed and drove over.
He was freaking out. My mom was on the floor of their bedroom and unresponsive. The part of me that is prone to cry and freak out shut off. I instinctually knew what to do... but the little part of me that is the consumate cryer, really tried to break free and let itself be known.
I'm gonna say that going to CPR training was really helpful because it helped me to assess the problem and not panic as much. She was on the ground on her stomach, but I could tell by how she was that she didn't fall and hit her head. I was, though, unsure if she had fallen off the bed and hurt her back. I made the decision to not move her. She was less than responsive to anything I did. I yelled her name, nudged at her, clapped my hands... it was met with grunting and groaning. Her eyes did not open and her breathing was very sporatic. Not gasping... but irregular.
I called 911 and stayed with the operator until EMT arrived. They moved my mom away from the bed and when they tipped her over off her stomach, she vomited bile on the carpet. She still remained unresponsive. The room got even smaller when a batch of fire fighters arrived. No, they weren't cute.... I looked.
I went to the front room to call my brother. After the first call, I left a message. After the 4th consectutive call, he finally picked up. He was definitely worried, but asked me to keep him in the know. I called my boss after I called my brother. She's a sweet woman and when she asked me what was wrong, the crack in my wall opened and I cried a little. She did what a good boss would do, she told me to not worry and she would take care of everything. I'm positive that she did. I made sure that she got word about how my mom was doing. It's the least I could do for the compassion she showed me.
We were taken to our local hospital. Luckily, it isn't really busy here, so she got swift and excellent service. The only person I'm not really thrilled with is her doctor. He's an asshole.
Emma
He was freaking out. My mom was on the floor of their bedroom and unresponsive. The part of me that is prone to cry and freak out shut off. I instinctually knew what to do... but the little part of me that is the consumate cryer, really tried to break free and let itself be known.
I'm gonna say that going to CPR training was really helpful because it helped me to assess the problem and not panic as much. She was on the ground on her stomach, but I could tell by how she was that she didn't fall and hit her head. I was, though, unsure if she had fallen off the bed and hurt her back. I made the decision to not move her. She was less than responsive to anything I did. I yelled her name, nudged at her, clapped my hands... it was met with grunting and groaning. Her eyes did not open and her breathing was very sporatic. Not gasping... but irregular.
I called 911 and stayed with the operator until EMT arrived. They moved my mom away from the bed and when they tipped her over off her stomach, she vomited bile on the carpet. She still remained unresponsive. The room got even smaller when a batch of fire fighters arrived. No, they weren't cute.... I looked.
I went to the front room to call my brother. After the first call, I left a message. After the 4th consectutive call, he finally picked up. He was definitely worried, but asked me to keep him in the know. I called my boss after I called my brother. She's a sweet woman and when she asked me what was wrong, the crack in my wall opened and I cried a little. She did what a good boss would do, she told me to not worry and she would take care of everything. I'm positive that she did. I made sure that she got word about how my mom was doing. It's the least I could do for the compassion she showed me.
We were taken to our local hospital. Luckily, it isn't really busy here, so she got swift and excellent service. The only person I'm not really thrilled with is her doctor. He's an asshole.
Emma
Monday, June 22, 2009
Groove is in the Transit....
I arrived in Vegas on Friday. When I landed, the weather was hot... and horrible. The weather back in California had not climbed to triple digits, so I was sweating like a pig on a spit. Before I talk about Vegas... let's rewind to when I took BART to the San Francisco Airport.
I got to BART and hopped on the train at about 5:30 AM in Dublin. My flight on Virgin was slated to leave at 9:30, so I knew that I needed to pad for the travel to the airport (appx 1hr 30 min) and to check in (appx 1hr 30 min) before the flight. ** I have to mention that I am paying $5 a day for airport parking at the BART station. For $20 I am parking where I am taking transit. It is MUCH cheaper than the airport long term**I had plans on getting a seat, settling in with my iPod and snoozing until I had to switch trains. Something stopped me from these plans.... a hot guy with a suitcase who was sitting a few rows in front of me. Need I mention, he was so hot, that I considered sneaking a picture of him so I could stare at him later.... I didn't do it though. I was too tired and nodding off. I did, though, see him studying the route map and looking at every stop. When I saw he didn't exit in Oakland, I figured he was also on his way to San Francisco International. Hot guy had been talking to another fella during the route, so between my teeny snoozes... I just watched him like a sad, cougar stalker.
Hot guy's conversation partner exited the train when we got into the city, so I asked him if he was on his way to San Francisco as well. He was. He asked if I knew the way there and I told him I did, but we had to switch trains. Apparently, he was interested in hitching a ride to my directional skills. God... FINALLY my nerdy interests come in handy. We exited the train for the transfer and stood together on the platform. He. Was. Ripped. In the grand scheme of seeing a hot man for the first time, this was perfect. He wore a white, short sleeve shirt that showed off his well toned arms. *swoon* This is pathetic... I am 33. I did, though, continue to look.
Oh, where was I. We were on the platform and got to talking. He was on his way to San Diego to visit a friend. He was studying to be an RN. Like a dumbass, I said, "You mean, you aren't a male model?" *sigh* I'm lucky he laughed... because it was nice to have the conversation on the platform. He's from a town close to where I live and was very green when it came to public transpo. We got on the airport train together. I found out at 7:00, that his flight was slated to leave at 7:45. I started to get worried for him. That's not a lot of time. There was more pleasasnt conversation on the train and when we exited at the airport, we rode the shuttle together to his destination. He hugged me and told me I was the best thing that happened to him that day. He smelled good. Adonis ran away in pursuit of this airplane and I rode the now empty shuttle to my gate.
It was an excellent start to a fun weekend! The interesting thing about Virgin America is that their gate is located in the International terminal. It was nice to repeat the walk I took when Lizzie and I went to Europe. :)
Virgin is a wonderful airline! I got my roundtrip airfare for $145 with tax. I took a ride on the airline about a year and half ago when I met Lizzie in Los Angeles for MouseAdventure. There is mood lighting and great music choices on the plane. I was excited for my personal video screen again. As for amenities, I was not disappointed. The touch screen had an eclectic mix of music. From Duffy to The Clash to Dora the Explorer to Beethoven to the music of Wicked, there was something for everyone. One is able to make a playlist of the music and let it ride. I watched music videos for the first 15 minutes on the plane. :) The movies are pay, but the free entertainment on the screen was more than sufficient for me!
The ride was a quick hour and 15 minutes. I managed to take a 45 minute nap while listening to my playlist. Also... the flight attendants were gay... and OH so cute! :D Huzzah!
Emma
I got to BART and hopped on the train at about 5:30 AM in Dublin. My flight on Virgin was slated to leave at 9:30, so I knew that I needed to pad for the travel to the airport (appx 1hr 30 min) and to check in (appx 1hr 30 min) before the flight. ** I have to mention that I am paying $5 a day for airport parking at the BART station. For $20 I am parking where I am taking transit. It is MUCH cheaper than the airport long term**I had plans on getting a seat, settling in with my iPod and snoozing until I had to switch trains. Something stopped me from these plans.... a hot guy with a suitcase who was sitting a few rows in front of me. Need I mention, he was so hot, that I considered sneaking a picture of him so I could stare at him later.... I didn't do it though. I was too tired and nodding off. I did, though, see him studying the route map and looking at every stop. When I saw he didn't exit in Oakland, I figured he was also on his way to San Francisco International. Hot guy had been talking to another fella during the route, so between my teeny snoozes... I just watched him like a sad, cougar stalker.
Hot guy's conversation partner exited the train when we got into the city, so I asked him if he was on his way to San Francisco as well. He was. He asked if I knew the way there and I told him I did, but we had to switch trains. Apparently, he was interested in hitching a ride to my directional skills. God... FINALLY my nerdy interests come in handy. We exited the train for the transfer and stood together on the platform. He. Was. Ripped. In the grand scheme of seeing a hot man for the first time, this was perfect. He wore a white, short sleeve shirt that showed off his well toned arms. *swoon* This is pathetic... I am 33. I did, though, continue to look.
Oh, where was I. We were on the platform and got to talking. He was on his way to San Diego to visit a friend. He was studying to be an RN. Like a dumbass, I said, "You mean, you aren't a male model?" *sigh* I'm lucky he laughed... because it was nice to have the conversation on the platform. He's from a town close to where I live and was very green when it came to public transpo. We got on the airport train together. I found out at 7:00, that his flight was slated to leave at 7:45. I started to get worried for him. That's not a lot of time. There was more pleasasnt conversation on the train and when we exited at the airport, we rode the shuttle together to his destination. He hugged me and told me I was the best thing that happened to him that day. He smelled good. Adonis ran away in pursuit of this airplane and I rode the now empty shuttle to my gate.
It was an excellent start to a fun weekend! The interesting thing about Virgin America is that their gate is located in the International terminal. It was nice to repeat the walk I took when Lizzie and I went to Europe. :)
Virgin is a wonderful airline! I got my roundtrip airfare for $145 with tax. I took a ride on the airline about a year and half ago when I met Lizzie in Los Angeles for MouseAdventure. There is mood lighting and great music choices on the plane. I was excited for my personal video screen again. As for amenities, I was not disappointed. The touch screen had an eclectic mix of music. From Duffy to The Clash to Dora the Explorer to Beethoven to the music of Wicked, there was something for everyone. One is able to make a playlist of the music and let it ride. I watched music videos for the first 15 minutes on the plane. :) The movies are pay, but the free entertainment on the screen was more than sufficient for me!
The ride was a quick hour and 15 minutes. I managed to take a 45 minute nap while listening to my playlist. Also... the flight attendants were gay... and OH so cute! :D Huzzah!
Emma
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Bay Area travels
Gosh, its been a long time since either of us posted here. Hopefully we haven't lost all our readers! I guess there hasn't been much out of the ordinary going on since we returned from London & Paris. Work, home, monotony. Though sometimes it's fun to say, "Hey, remember when we were in London and we saw..."
We did have a spurt of travel activity in the last couple of weeks. A week ago Sunday Emma took me to lunch in Berkeley for my birthday. We went to HS Lordships on the advice of a co-worker, which is on the water and has a lovely view of San Francisco. It also has a very substantial buffet, and, though I love breakfast foods, I was there for the crab legs. After brunch we headed over the Bay Bridge and kind of wandered aimlessly in the City.
The previous Wednesday saw us driving to Oakland to see The Decemberists in concert. This was my first D's concert, and they were fantastic! I have recently become a fan, and was very happy to see that their Bay Area gig was timed perfectly at the height of my mania. Although the band is still regarded as an "indie" band, their success has recently led to being signed by a major label (Capitol), so they are on the cusp of becoming more mainstream. They are a Portland-based band that have been called a "baroque" or "lit rock" band. Many of their songs are filled with tales of mariners, chimney sweeps, and legionnaires with references to petticoats and pistols, etc. As you can tell by my obsession with English history, they hit all my happy buttons. I am in danger of actually traveling far distances to hear them play again. I've been to numerous concerts, from huge productions for major stars to smaller, more intimate venues. But I don't recall the last time I saw a band work so hard. They performed the new album, Hazards of Love, in its entirety-- and this is a 17-song rock opera where each song segues into the next with no breaks. Then they came back after a short break and played for another hour. Fantastic!!
Anyway, here are a few pics:
This weekend I'm in SoCal visiting family and getting my Disneyland fix. I haven't been here in more than a month, you know. ;)
~Lizzie~
P.S.-- The Hat not only has extremely yummy pastrami sandwiches, but possibly the best chili cheese fries I have ever consumed.
We did have a spurt of travel activity in the last couple of weeks. A week ago Sunday Emma took me to lunch in Berkeley for my birthday. We went to HS Lordships on the advice of a co-worker, which is on the water and has a lovely view of San Francisco. It also has a very substantial buffet, and, though I love breakfast foods, I was there for the crab legs. After brunch we headed over the Bay Bridge and kind of wandered aimlessly in the City.
The previous Wednesday saw us driving to Oakland to see The Decemberists in concert. This was my first D's concert, and they were fantastic! I have recently become a fan, and was very happy to see that their Bay Area gig was timed perfectly at the height of my mania. Although the band is still regarded as an "indie" band, their success has recently led to being signed by a major label (Capitol), so they are on the cusp of becoming more mainstream. They are a Portland-based band that have been called a "baroque" or "lit rock" band. Many of their songs are filled with tales of mariners, chimney sweeps, and legionnaires with references to petticoats and pistols, etc. As you can tell by my obsession with English history, they hit all my happy buttons. I am in danger of actually traveling far distances to hear them play again. I've been to numerous concerts, from huge productions for major stars to smaller, more intimate venues. But I don't recall the last time I saw a band work so hard. They performed the new album, Hazards of Love, in its entirety-- and this is a 17-song rock opera where each song segues into the next with no breaks. Then they came back after a short break and played for another hour. Fantastic!!
Anyway, here are a few pics:
This weekend I'm in SoCal visiting family and getting my Disneyland fix. I haven't been here in more than a month, you know. ;)
~Lizzie~
P.S.-- The Hat not only has extremely yummy pastrami sandwiches, but possibly the best chili cheese fries I have ever consumed.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Confessions of a (poor) shopaholic
Hello. My name is Emma.
I am a poor shopaholic.
I have explored the deepest regions of the shopping meccas they call Harrods and Paris. One, I went to willingly. The other fell upon me like a house falling on the Wicked Witch of the East. There was a time when Vogue and InStyle were my bibles. Thick magazines weighed down my backpack and I made sure to read them cover to cover. Every month. Without fail.
My education in fashion had begun.
Once upon a time, I craved Guess Jeans, Esprit clothing and Vuarnet t-shirts. I rocked the Ray-Ban glasses and went through a period of surf culture. Over time, my tastes became more expensive. Esprit turned into Burberry. Vuarnet turned into Paul Frank and Harajuku. Even my eyeglasses became an extension of this obsession. Versace, Dior, Vera Wang... they became the couture that insurance paid for. Flip Flops: Havaianas. My summer dream would be the flip flops with the Swarovski crystals. But... I'd trip and lose the crystals immediately. Waste of money... but it would be awesome to have blingy flippity flops.
My opinion of Harrods had been influenced by my (not so fashionable or hip) parents who called Harrods a "tacky place". All I had to go on was the Green/Gold color scheme and the fact that they had a large food hall. Little did I know... it held a majority of the world's fashion secrets in stalls and nooks all over the store.
Walking into Harrods on British Mothering Day (exactly like Mother's Day in the US) was inSANE. Much like Americans, the Brits rush into fancy places to get mom perfume, sweets or couture to show their appreciation. It was like an ant farm that had crashed onto the floor. People milling around all over the places, turning heel then walking another direction. They had a guard at the door and a woman who was handing out maps. MAPS! Oy!
Lizzie was right. Harrods is set up like a casino. There are tons of rooms and misleading signs that force you to travel like lost lemmings all over the casino floor... or er... store. Our map did no good. It failed to give us true direction and only gave us generic names of more sinister floors: Womenswear (translation: a glittering floor of famous designers seen at Fashion Week that cost more than my salary), Stationary and Gifts (Translation: gifts for rich peeps), Childrenswear (Translation: Dolce&Gabbana for Scout? Um... no $124 tee for you) and the all encompassing Food Hall (Translation: mmm... chocolate. Oh wait... that one truffle costs £10 ? I'll pass! Thanks!) . It didn't look as if Harrods was hurting in the face of the faltering ecomomy. Every single branded stall had a minimum of 2 people. It was crazy! Then again, people who are ready to spend gads of money have no time to wait. You know... because time is money.
I am a poor shopaholic.
I have explored the deepest regions of the shopping meccas they call Harrods and Paris. One, I went to willingly. The other fell upon me like a house falling on the Wicked Witch of the East. There was a time when Vogue and InStyle were my bibles. Thick magazines weighed down my backpack and I made sure to read them cover to cover. Every month. Without fail.
My education in fashion had begun.
Once upon a time, I craved Guess Jeans, Esprit clothing and Vuarnet t-shirts. I rocked the Ray-Ban glasses and went through a period of surf culture. Over time, my tastes became more expensive. Esprit turned into Burberry. Vuarnet turned into Paul Frank and Harajuku. Even my eyeglasses became an extension of this obsession. Versace, Dior, Vera Wang... they became the couture that insurance paid for. Flip Flops: Havaianas. My summer dream would be the flip flops with the Swarovski crystals. But... I'd trip and lose the crystals immediately. Waste of money... but it would be awesome to have blingy flippity flops.
My opinion of Harrods had been influenced by my (not so fashionable or hip) parents who called Harrods a "tacky place". All I had to go on was the Green/Gold color scheme and the fact that they had a large food hall. Little did I know... it held a majority of the world's fashion secrets in stalls and nooks all over the store.
Walking into Harrods on British Mothering Day (exactly like Mother's Day in the US) was inSANE. Much like Americans, the Brits rush into fancy places to get mom perfume, sweets or couture to show their appreciation. It was like an ant farm that had crashed onto the floor. People milling around all over the places, turning heel then walking another direction. They had a guard at the door and a woman who was handing out maps. MAPS! Oy!
Lizzie was right. Harrods is set up like a casino. There are tons of rooms and misleading signs that force you to travel like lost lemmings all over the casino floor... or er... store. Our map did no good. It failed to give us true direction and only gave us generic names of more sinister floors: Womenswear (translation: a glittering floor of famous designers seen at Fashion Week that cost more than my salary), Stationary and Gifts (Translation: gifts for rich peeps), Childrenswear (Translation: Dolce&Gabbana for Scout? Um... no $124 tee for you) and the all encompassing Food Hall (Translation: mmm... chocolate. Oh wait... that one truffle costs £10 ? I'll pass! Thanks!) . It didn't look as if Harrods was hurting in the face of the faltering ecomomy. Every single branded stall had a minimum of 2 people. It was crazy! Then again, people who are ready to spend gads of money have no time to wait. You know... because time is money.
Hellooooooo Dere...
Just because Lizzie and I have come back from Europe, it doesn't mean that our journey has ended. Visit us often!
xoxo
Emma
xoxo
Emma
Monday, April 6, 2009
Prom Redeux....
I got stood up twice on Friday. By 2 different people for 2 different appointments.
It was my day off and I drove into a neighboring town to have lunch with my friend who was getting off of work at 2:00 PM. She said she would call me after work to meet up with me. She never called. I tried calling her house and eventually drove past her work (car was not there). I waited until 3:30 until I made my way back home. My friend eventually called around 4:00 PM. By that time, I was already home. When she asked if I was mad, I made sure to tell her that I wasn't mad, but was highly annoyed. I made a special trip out to the city. It wasn't as if I was running errands in the city and wanted to get together. We had also made plans, so it wasn't a last minute endevour.
My high point of the failed lunch trip was purchasing $35 worth of stuffs at the local secondhand record/DVD store. I got the Broadway soundtracks to Les Miserables (*2 Discs for $10!!!) and In the Heights. I also purchased Season 1 of Extras and the movie Camp. I enjoyed watching Camp on my lazy Sunday. It's a *ahem* campy movie... but the kids are so talented! A fun tidbit, the girl who plays Jessica in the movie adaptation of Twilight is in Camp also.
Scout and I were supposed to have game night with friends. One friend failed to tell the other one about said game night. Both of the friends made plans. Scout and I were left disappointed and had to make our own night. That fun consisted of Sephora, Best Buy and Der Weinerscnitzel. Scout has the same genetic disease I was... AM...afflicted with..... Expensive Taste Disease. Scout loves to try on perfume. There are times that she comes out reeking like she fell in a vat of rotting flowers. This time was different. She tried on only 2 perfumes (rejoyce!) and the sample she chose for herself was Escada: Ocean Lounge . Since, we were able to get 3 samples, I chose Burberry. Yes... the perfume is the closest I can get before I eventually purchase the Cashmere Scarf. I got The Beat and Sheer. I have a friend that has a Coach Obsession. Mine is a Burberry Longing. lol One day I will have the scarf. For now I have a Fauxberry purse and wallet.
The day wasn't too bad... but it didn't feel good to be stood up. Something similar happened to me at my Senior Prom many moons ago. The good thing: my friend from the neighboring town took me to Prom that same night because he said that "No girl should be stood up for the Prom". This very nice boy is now expecting a baby with his wife! :D I don't think he reads this... but if he does, I wish him all the success in the world. Yay Mee-ay-Kay!
xoxo
Emma
It was my day off and I drove into a neighboring town to have lunch with my friend who was getting off of work at 2:00 PM. She said she would call me after work to meet up with me. She never called. I tried calling her house and eventually drove past her work (car was not there). I waited until 3:30 until I made my way back home. My friend eventually called around 4:00 PM. By that time, I was already home. When she asked if I was mad, I made sure to tell her that I wasn't mad, but was highly annoyed. I made a special trip out to the city. It wasn't as if I was running errands in the city and wanted to get together. We had also made plans, so it wasn't a last minute endevour.
My high point of the failed lunch trip was purchasing $35 worth of stuffs at the local secondhand record/DVD store. I got the Broadway soundtracks to Les Miserables (*2 Discs for $10!!!) and In the Heights. I also purchased Season 1 of Extras and the movie Camp. I enjoyed watching Camp on my lazy Sunday. It's a *ahem* campy movie... but the kids are so talented! A fun tidbit, the girl who plays Jessica in the movie adaptation of Twilight is in Camp also.
Scout and I were supposed to have game night with friends. One friend failed to tell the other one about said game night. Both of the friends made plans. Scout and I were left disappointed and had to make our own night. That fun consisted of Sephora, Best Buy and Der Weinerscnitzel. Scout has the same genetic disease I was... AM...afflicted with..... Expensive Taste Disease. Scout loves to try on perfume. There are times that she comes out reeking like she fell in a vat of rotting flowers. This time was different. She tried on only 2 perfumes (rejoyce!) and the sample she chose for herself was Escada: Ocean Lounge . Since, we were able to get 3 samples, I chose Burberry. Yes... the perfume is the closest I can get before I eventually purchase the Cashmere Scarf. I got The Beat and Sheer. I have a friend that has a Coach Obsession. Mine is a Burberry Longing. lol One day I will have the scarf. For now I have a Fauxberry purse and wallet.
The day wasn't too bad... but it didn't feel good to be stood up. Something similar happened to me at my Senior Prom many moons ago. The good thing: my friend from the neighboring town took me to Prom that same night because he said that "No girl should be stood up for the Prom". This very nice boy is now expecting a baby with his wife! :D I don't think he reads this... but if he does, I wish him all the success in the world. Yay Mee-ay-Kay!
xoxo
Emma
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Admitting you have a problem is the first step
Exactly one week ago I returned from Europe. So of course, this weekend I'm in SoCal with my parents to visit my brother and sister-in-law. They live in Garden Grove, 5 minutes away from Disneyland. Everyone in my family has annual passes. Here is how my day went:
5 a.m. Woke up earlier than I meant to. Didn't bother to go back to sleep.
6:30 a.m.- Went to pick up mother from Grandmother's House
7:00 a.m.- Picked up father. Got on the road
2:30 a.m.- checked into hotels-- Long story. I managed to book a room at the wrong hotel from where parents were staying. Oops.
3:30 Went to brother's apartment. Talked for a while
5:00- Dinner at Kings Fish House in Orange.
8:30- Back at apartment. Chatted some more
9:30- Went back to hotel room. Too close to Disneyland... I have a premium pass... not blacked out today.
9:35- Left hotel room. Walked to Disneyland. I have problems
9:45 Got to Disneyland. Happy now. Fireworks ended, crowds leaving park. Fighting way up Main Street like salmon going upstream. Ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion.
10:45- Start walking back to hotel
11:00- back at hotel. Must go to sleep.... can't tell anyone that I couldn't make it through the day without getting my fix.
I need professional help.
Lizzie
5 a.m. Woke up earlier than I meant to. Didn't bother to go back to sleep.
6:30 a.m.- Went to pick up mother from Grandmother's House
7:00 a.m.- Picked up father. Got on the road
2:30 a.m.- checked into hotels-- Long story. I managed to book a room at the wrong hotel from where parents were staying. Oops.
3:30 Went to brother's apartment. Talked for a while
5:00- Dinner at Kings Fish House in Orange.
8:30- Back at apartment. Chatted some more
9:30- Went back to hotel room. Too close to Disneyland... I have a premium pass... not blacked out today.
9:35- Left hotel room. Walked to Disneyland. I have problems
9:45 Got to Disneyland. Happy now. Fireworks ended, crowds leaving park. Fighting way up Main Street like salmon going upstream. Ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion.
10:45- Start walking back to hotel
11:00- back at hotel. Must go to sleep.... can't tell anyone that I couldn't make it through the day without getting my fix.
I need professional help.
Lizzie
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Update
Lizzie and I got our luggage on Saturday night. My house looks like a souvenir truck ran into it. Also, the dirty clothes jitney took a tumble in my bedroom before going away. Word of caution... don't come over. ;)
xoxo
Emma
xoxo
Emma
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Home... FINALLY
Europe was amazing. Don't think for a moment it wasn't, but it's so good to be home. SO good to be home! Lizzie and I had some plane drama. Not between us.. but the planes in general.
Our plane home from Paris was a lot smaller than our plane to London. We didn't have the same plane with the individual televisions, so our entertainment was limited to reading and sleeping. My iTouch ran out of juice, so we listened to Lizzie's MP3 player with my earphone splitter.
When we arrived in Dallas, we were dismayed to find out that we had to go through customs, retrieve our bags from Baggage Claim, check in our bags AGAIN for our connecting flight to San Francisco, THEN go to our corresponding gate for our flight home.
Lizzie, consummate planner, gave us a nice layover time of 3 hours. This was cut short by our late flight so we had 2 hours of relax time before having to board. Though... when it was time to board... we didn't. Our flight was canceled... with no announcement. To be fair, a lot of flights were canceled that were going out of Dallas. We ended up standing in a long line of passengers to get a new flight out. We got a flight to San Jose. Bad news though.... our bags were still on our way to San Francisco. Lizzie and I were told to file a Lost Baggage claim at San Jose if our bags didn't show up.
They didn't show up.
I think our bags will be here by the end of the weekend. I hope so... because I have no clothes other than the ones I was wearing on the plane. Bleg. Also... all the goodies I had brought home are in the luggage.
xoxo
Emma
Our plane home from Paris was a lot smaller than our plane to London. We didn't have the same plane with the individual televisions, so our entertainment was limited to reading and sleeping. My iTouch ran out of juice, so we listened to Lizzie's MP3 player with my earphone splitter.
When we arrived in Dallas, we were dismayed to find out that we had to go through customs, retrieve our bags from Baggage Claim, check in our bags AGAIN for our connecting flight to San Francisco, THEN go to our corresponding gate for our flight home.
Lizzie, consummate planner, gave us a nice layover time of 3 hours. This was cut short by our late flight so we had 2 hours of relax time before having to board. Though... when it was time to board... we didn't. Our flight was canceled... with no announcement. To be fair, a lot of flights were canceled that were going out of Dallas. We ended up standing in a long line of passengers to get a new flight out. We got a flight to San Jose. Bad news though.... our bags were still on our way to San Francisco. Lizzie and I were told to file a Lost Baggage claim at San Jose if our bags didn't show up.
They didn't show up.
I think our bags will be here by the end of the weekend. I hope so... because I have no clothes other than the ones I was wearing on the plane. Bleg. Also... all the goodies I had brought home are in the luggage.
xoxo
Emma
Friday, March 27, 2009
one more
The only good thing I will add about Dallas is this:
They gave a free charging station for all things electronic. As we speak, Lizzie's laptop and MP3 player is charging, my iTouch is charging. All is right... until we have to board and unhook everything.
Emma
They gave a free charging station for all things electronic. As we speak, Lizzie's laptop and MP3 player is charging, my iTouch is charging. All is right... until we have to board and unhook everything.
Emma
The long and winding road
After a 10 hour flight from Paris, we landed in Dallas only to find that our connecting flight to San Francisco has been canceled. We've rebooked on a later flight to San Jose, and now we are trying to arrange it so both we AND our luggage go to the same city.
Texas can suck it.
Lizzie and Emma
Texas can suck it.
Lizzie and Emma
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Winding down
We're a bit behind in the blogging... haven't spent much time in the hotel room over the last couple of days.
Just to keep the info flowing, yesterday (before the absinthe) we went to Versailles and the Louvre. My guess is that those readers who have been to Paris will think we are crazy for doing both in one day... and they would be right. We're both ready to drop.
Today Emma went on her own Paris museum crawl, and generally walked around the city, while Lizzie went to Disneyland Paris.
More details on all of the above will be forthcoming, as soon as we have time to blog. For now, we have to pack for home.
Emma & Lizzie
Just to keep the info flowing, yesterday (before the absinthe) we went to Versailles and the Louvre. My guess is that those readers who have been to Paris will think we are crazy for doing both in one day... and they would be right. We're both ready to drop.
Today Emma went on her own Paris museum crawl, and generally walked around the city, while Lizzie went to Disneyland Paris.
More details on all of the above will be forthcoming, as soon as we have time to blog. For now, we have to pack for home.
Emma & Lizzie
Paris Solo
It was my day to be alone in Paris while Lizzie explores the great wilds of Disneyland Paris. I left the hotel at about 10 AM, about 30 minutes after Lizzie. My first stop was the Pere LachaiseCemetery . I wasn't alone by any means, as there were tons of tourists there, but we were spread out all over the place. People of all ages came to the Cemetery. Older people in the 60s were walking around in tour groups and busloads of foreign tourists bumped around the cobblestone streets looking for their "favorite" graves.
The main map of the cemetery was easy to read. All of the"permanent residents" that were of note were alphabetized and numbered accordingly. The map that was handed out was not at all the same. It was blocked off by neighborhood and numbered individually. So, there were over 25 #1s. I had to go around circling the numbers I was interested in seeing. It was a total pain. But, I love cemeteries... so I suffered in silence (pardon the pun).
The cemetery has a ton of cobblestone. Over time, the gaps have significantly widened and the stones have raised themselves in places. True to form.... I tripped. A lot.
The main map of the cemetery was easy to read. All of the"permanent residents" that were of note were alphabetized and numbered accordingly. The map that was handed out was not at all the same. It was blocked off by neighborhood and numbered individually. So, there were over 25 #1s. I had to go around circling the numbers I was interested in seeing. It was a total pain. But, I love cemeteries... so I suffered in silence (pardon the pun).
The cemetery has a ton of cobblestone. Over time, the gaps have significantly widened and the stones have raised themselves in places. True to form.... I tripped. A lot.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Warning....REad if over 21
Kids.... Absinthe is bad.
Alcohol is bad.
Things are funny when you have high proof achohol. DON'T DO IT. Stay in School.
Alcohol is bad.
Things are funny when you have high proof achohol. DON'T DO IT. Stay in School.
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