Monday Morning Rambling

I start work in a few minutes, but all I can think about is this weekend.  I can't wait to get out of town. I've been looking forward to this mini trip for a while now.

There are many places within California I would like to visit and the Metro Hotel, Petaluma CA is one of them.  That is where I will be this weekend. I'm pretty excited. I have never stayed in Petaluma, though I think I have traveled through it a couple of times.  Before the hotel we will be visiting my favorite park in San Francisco, John McLaren Park. I haven't been there in a while and miss it very much.  After the park we will be going to the Dickens Fair which I have never been. So, two firsts this coming weekend.  Again...Super excited for this adventure!

Can you tell I'm excited? Maybe a little...

So here is my song for the week.  No surprise, right? You gotta love the 80's and the weekend.

Day 11 & 12 of Lent: Santa Cruz & a Birthday.

Saturday March 15, 2014

My sanctuary. 

Headed out to Santa Cruz with JW and the girls. We brought home made sandwiches and snacks for the day.  We visited The Mystery Spot  before going to the beach; I had never been there before.  I love science and the mysteries of the world, but I was not impressed, I don't know why.  The only thing that made it fun was the company I had.  It was nice to see them having a good time and that's what made it worth it.  I was so excited to be at the beach.  We didn't go the the beach at the Boardwalk because it's too crowded.  I dislike large crowds.  We found a nice spot and i actually stripped down to my bikini.  Can you believe it?  I can't, I was self conscious about it.  I still have a lot of insecurities about myself and it's hard for me to run around in very little clothing.  We tanned for a little bit and then went for a little walk down the beach.

You know, I have never been inside a lighthouse.  I need to add it to my Bucket List

We went to the Boardwalk and walked around, did some people watching, and had a deep fried twinkie for the first time.  I thought it was a little too sweet for me, but I would have another.  I got a little turtle made of shells and we named him Cruz.  We only went on one ride, the Sky glider (I think that's what it was called).  I am terrified of heights, but it was still fun, well until it stopped.  I'm such a baby.  JW and I went to the bowling alley near by and grabbed a couple beers before heading back to the Arcade to play a couple games.  Once we all met up again we played mini golf before heading home, and well I suck at mini golf, but I had a lot of fun.

Cruz the Turtle. 

Sunday March 16, 2014

Happy 14th Birthday to my mini me.  We already celebrated her birthday last week and she was supposed to celebrate with her fathers side of the family today.  All she ended up doing was going to lunch with her grandparents.  She will have a party on the 23rd.  She slept most of the day because she wasn't feeling well.  Poor kid.  Nothing much else happened. We watched movies and hung out.  It was a nice relaxing Sunday.  

Looking Fabulous... 

Question by Jo Estes:  If anything, What is the one thing you would do differently and why?  Also, How do past experiences affect the person you are today & the choices you make? 

I wouldn't change a thing in my life. Even the hardest times, the times when i was at my lowest,  I would change nothing. But, IF I had to pick at least one thing, it would be that I continued college when I first attended.  Though if I did, my life would be completely different and I wouldn't be who I am and I wouldn't have the great friends I do today.  The experiences I've had in my life, good and bad, have taught me to love, accept myself and others for who we are, and understand that nothing is forever.  I appreciate what I have, forgive myself and others for our mistakes, and live life as it comes.

  

My Sunburned Birthday Adventure

My birthday is July 1, and I am 36 years old this year.   I was planning on just going to school and going about my day like it's any other day.  Except i was far to sunburned to walk and my poor legs swelled up twice their size.  Why you ask?  Oh well, my friend Eric thought it would be nice to take me away for the weekend on a Birthday Adventure.  You know by now I love adventures, so of course I agreed not knowing what we will be doing until I got there.  Silly me, didn't think to bring sunblock and neither did Eric.  We drove to Forestville to go canoeing at Burkes.  I have never been before and at first said NO WAY!  Not that I didn't want to try, but there were a lot of people and I don't do well in big crowds.  This was a big crowd in water so naturally I panicked.  Once a large portion of the crowd was on their way I felt safe enough to go.  We get our canoe and head out for a three hour paddle ride down the Russian River.  Wait.. THREE HOURS?  Oh nice Eric, you could have told me BEFORE we got in the darn canoe.  Like I said before, I had no sunblock, with short shorts on.  It has been about ten years since my legs have seen the sun.  The scenery was fabulous, the canoe ride was great, and people were super friendly.  About half way through the ride I got wet but some local kids who got us with super soakers.  I was already getting hot and feeling a little burnt.  The water cooled me for a minute until I started to feel the burn.  I knew it was going to be too late by the time we were done.  So I did the best I could by taking my shirt off to cover my legs.  Once we got to the end I swam in the river until the bus came to pick us up.  The water was so cool and refreshing.  I want to go back and camp at Burkes.

It doesn't look bad, yet. 

One the Canoe trip was done we went back to the Hotel and cleaned up.  I took a cold bath and somehow with my burned legs was able to get my nylons on.  We went to dinner at the Hotel, walked around, and thought about going to the pool.  We sat and watched the people from our balcony before we fell asleep.  The next morning I stepped out on the balcony to see lots of spider webs, I saw some the night before, I just didn't realize there were so many.  There was one spider in particular wrapping his new meal.  I snapped a picture of him but didn't like it.  I snapped another and thought OH MY GOSH, He has a scary face.

Such an evil grin 

Once we were ready to go, I stepped out to say goodbye to Mr. Spider, but he was busy eating.  We went to Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.  I had never been there and I was super excited because as you all know I love nature.  My sunburn wasn't too bad though my pants rubbed on my knees as i climbed.  I took some pictures of random trees and animals.  Eric spotted a doe, at first that is all we saw; then she starts walking away from us and we see two babies trotting behind her.  They were so cute.

Oh snap! Mama deer's looking right at us. 

We ended the day with Goat Rock Beach.  I'm not sure why it's called that when nothing looks like a goat.  I read that my favorite movie of all time, GOONIES, was filmed here (the last scene). We saw some seals playing in the water.  The water was ice cold by the way.  It felt good on my burned legs until I was out of the water.  The wind made me shiver like I had a fever.  BBRRRRRRRRRR

Arched Rock at Goat Rock Beach.  Photo by me

On the way home we grabbed some dinner and chatted about the weekend.  I complained about my legs and Eric says the dumbest thing ever "You're Mexican, I thought you could handle it".  Uh thanks man, cause Mexicans never burn.  I guess I'm not mexican enough to handle the sun, ha ha.  We get to my house only to find my son outside freaking out because a praying mantis is on the window.  I tell him how they are good luck.  He doesn't care, to him it's the devil.  We move the poor mantis to a nearby rose bush.  That my friends is my Birthday Adventure.

The Mantis we found on my window sill. 

** You can see the rest of the photos in my Google+ Album BDAY POST

Something New with Friends (Overdue blog)

I had a few firsts recently. In November I was invited to Lake Tahoe for the first time. We left on the 23rd knowing I had never been there and NEVER attempted snow boarding. You see, I always considered myself one who dislikes snow. I believe I was 3 the last time I was in real snow, not counting the bizarre mini snow fall Brentwood had once (or was it twice?). My family lives in areas that snow, but I don't visit during that time. I always thought I hated it, people would talk about snow and my immediate response was "eww I hate snow". So I had not played in snow, made snow balls, snow men or snow angels. I had not been to a ski resort or anything really. You can see how crazy it sounds that I would agree to go. I was hesitant, but I have been telling myself that I need to try new things and face my fears. Plus I really needed to get away.

An old high school friend by the name of Eric invited me. We had been hanging out lately and he would say that he was going to get me to the snow. He was so sure he would get me to go snow boarding. He was right. We drove to Tahoe and stayed at Montbleu Resort Hotel. It was a nice place and the shower/ tub was awesome. We met up with another old high school friend Tyler and his wife Angelina.  We went to dinner and did some gambling, okay I only played Keno, but it's still gambling.

 Saturday the 24th we went to Heavenly Ski Resort and I was faced with snow, ice and lots of crazy people. We rented me & Angelina some boots and boards. Then it was off to play. Eric & Tyler are seasoned boarders, so they showed us the basics. Angelina had been boarding one time prior to this trip. So I made it clear that i am a slow learner when it comes to sports and They only had one hour to get me started then they were to take off and go do their thing. So the hour passes and I got the basics but had a hard time getting up when I fell. The guys want to go elsewhere but I don't feel ready and choose to stay behind. I have a feeling Eric felt bad, but I made it clear that they take off after an hour. So I try a few more times on my own. As I told you in the last post I was clipped by another boarder and then hit by a second person. It hurt! Someone was nice and helped me not fall again until I got to a chair. Haha..  I sat there for a bit watching the kids learn and I can't believe how small some of the kids were. To see these tiny body sliding around was super cute. I wish I had brought my phone to take photos. After a while I decide to get up and walk around. That is when Eric spotted me and we headed back to the hotel. I was walking a bit funny when we left Heavenly. I thought taking a nice hot bath would help and it did. Though I think the drinking I was doing while getting ready for the night made me feel no pain. By the time we left the room to eat I was barely able to walk. I think Eric escorted me around most of the time. We had a buffet dinner, and half way through I went to the restroom and I get lost trying to get back to the table. It felt as if I was walking for hours trying to find my friends. After dinner we walk back to our hotel to check out Club Opal for some dancing.  We had some more drinks and then it was dance time. Only Eric and I danced because Tyler doesn't dance, what a weirdo. I think we danced just about the whole time we were there. It has been so long since i went dancing. I believe that was the most fun from that weekend. I need to go dancing more often (hint hint).

 Sunday morning we went to Denny's for breakfast before heading home. The server was a young pretty girl and she was so sweet. Before we actually headed home Eric took me sight seeing real quick. It is so lovely in Tahoe, I can't believe I have never been there before. I think I told Eric a few times I would so live there. I would love to live anywhere like it.

So all in all the trip was great. I had fun and it was well worth it. I want to go again soon. I am grateful for the friends that thought to invite me. Thank you Eric, Tyler and Angelina.

Below are the few photos I took with my phone.

Friday night. You like our makeshift cooler?

Saturday night. I was pretty tipsy in this photo.