Happy Moments - Random Thoughts

I have taken a long break from blogging about my cruise but I am hoping this will get me going again.

This weekend I had the opportunity to spend time with my niece LE.

It was fantastic to have her here at my place. The best part is that we had good quality time and conversation. She was able to spend time with some of my friends that I think are awesome (MC, RT, and KD) and so does LE.

On Sunday she introduced me to the Happy Buddha for a foot massage. We watched a movie and we also had a conversation about why I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, talked about the first vision and Joseph Smith, and temple worthiness and temples. Now if you know me, you know my nieces and nephew are Jewish. My family has always been respectful of my religion and I have been of theirs. However, my nieces and nephew and I have not really had serious deep conversations about the gospel. Granted they are just adults and I never pushed the religion talk when they were young as they didn't bring it up. However, she was asking questions and I answered them the best I could.

Honestly, I kept thinking about the 13 Articles of Faith as I thought of how to best answer the questions. Which I found ironic that a day or two later my friend JJ posted about learning them and using them to discuss the Gospel. I know them because of having taught primary.

We ended our evening by having a sushi picnic while looking at the San Diego Temple. I never really imagined that I would ever be on the temple grounds with a family member. So this was a super special moment for me. I love my nieces and nephew so much and honestly, LE was the perfect one to share this first moment with LE.

My second happy moment occurred this evening. I was leaving work and I saw sister missionaries walking around the corner from my office. I was so happy to see them and thought about my weekend with LE. I felt prompted to turn around and just let them know how seeing them made me so happy and that they were doing a great job.

Cheesy I know but honestly these moments made me HAPPY!

June 28 - Day Two Heading to Whittier Alaska

We woke up early on Friday morning and got showered to eat the breakfast provided at the hotel. We met with our group which had already been in Alaska for a few days and met more people.

I met a cute boy in the elevator on my way down and we talked about how we were going on a cruise I didn't think too much of this and thought I am sure it is just a common thing to meet other people who are going on a cruise. As it turned out he was in our group and he was a twin and they were both adorable.

We met the entire group that was there and then boarded the bus around 1. We saw the Anchorage temple on our way out of Anchorage and then stopped at Wildlife Conservation Center is located off the Seward Highway at the Portage Glacier turnoff. Here we saw up close moose, brown bears, black bears, bison, elks, bison, elk,  Sitka black-tailed deer, bald eagles. We were limited on time as we needed to make it to the  3:00 Whittier Tunnel. I did not understand what the fuss was about until we got there on time and started going through the tunnel. This tunnel is only open one way at certain times so if you miss the window for the direction you want to go which is basically into Whittier or out of Whittier you have to wait until the next time. We made our tunnel and I started to get nervous as it was pitch dark and started thinking what if we get stuck and air runs out. The interior is exposed rock, and contains several "safe-houses", which are small buildings that are used in case of severe earthquakes, vehicle fires, or other emergencies. Which of course the driver explained after he made a comment about the oxygen running out and these safe houses. This of course made me get more nervous but clearly we made it. Claustrophobia sucks.

We checked into the Whittier Inn which was right on the bay and super cute looking. Most of us were on the same floor. The twins we met invited us to see their suite...such cute boys. MR and I then headed with AM, BB, and JB to eat dinner.

Our view was amazing and I still couldn't believe I was in Alaska.

 

We returned to our rooms and we saw a Bald Eagle from the window. MR and I saw a group of people walking out of this building where they worked and start walking and we wondered where they were going. We lost sight of them and I went down to follow them I am such a dork. As I kept walking I was enjoying the views and  wanted to walk to the Buckner building and then realized I had no cell phone with me. I also started thinking I am out of view and no way to tell anyone where I am going or call if I need help. Which of course set me thinking of this is how people get cut up and found in little pieces in Criminal Minds, so I stopped my little walk and headed back to the Inn. More to come later about the Buckner building later.

That night when we tried to go to sleep we had a total giggle and laugh fest I don't recall exactly now what was said but it was hilarious.

June 27 - First Day of Vacation

So on Thursday, June 27 I was off work for vacation time. This was the longest vacation I had scheduled in a while so I was a bit anxious and excited.

That morning I woke up early and did laundry, finished packing, went and turned in my rent payment, filled up my gas tank, and picked up my meds.

I picked MR a little bit later than planned and we did a quick stop at SWs work to get M's MP3 player. We then headed to my office so I could do a couple of things and then be off.

We then headed to PD to pick up my SIL EAE and we had a little bit of a delay as they were working on a road and we had to wait to go down a one way lane. However we made it and did a quick pit stop and headed to Long Beach.

We arrived in Long Beach and decided to have dinner at one of my favorite places Enrique's. Had ceviche and milanesa for dinner. Pure yumminess. EAE then dropped off as at Long Beach Airport. As usual we went quickly through the security checkpoint. I checked in my bag at 51 lbs. and the guy said "looks like you are at 50 right?" I just smiled and said "you are the boss and whatever you say goes" so off I went.

Our flight was delayed a little bit but we took off and headed to Anchorage Alaska. We landed close to midnight and it was still slightly light. We took the courtesy shuttle to the Fairmont Inn and AM met us in the lobby. I had a hard time falling asleep since I was excited for my trip and it was barely dark.

More to come with a day by day summary and picture. None for this post.

Alaska in a Week

I can't believe a week from today I will be going on my 2nd cruise and this time it is Alaska! I am excited and looking forward to this trip. I am also having to work hard before I leave.

Last weekend my nieces asked me to take them with me. Yes, sure ask me when I realize I have to be on a budget and not spend money freely. I would so love to just say let's book you a cabin and you pay the airfare. However, I can't as much as I would love to have them join me on this adventure I just can't do it and trust me I have thought about how I could manage it all week.

So LE and NE please know that as I go on this trip you will be on my mind.

Which brings me to another trip. A couple of years ago I was fortunate to go to Paris France because of work. As I did some sightseeing I kept thinking of my friend CA and MG and as I ate crepes I would think of them and wish they were there with me. I was traveling alone after all. Anyhow, last night CA posted some pics of her in Paris and I was super happy to know she made it there and oh the sights she will see.

So plan a trip big or small but plan it and make it happen!

5 Days

So a week from tonight I will be on vacation. I think it finally hit my boss that he approved my vacation in early February to be off work for almost two weeks. .I don't think either one of us thought we would be where we are at this time because we just kind of looked at each other and said what was I thinking.
I have so much to do before I can leave not only at work but also for getting my place cleaned before I leave. I think this is important when you leave on vacation. Besides my family will be staying here while I am gone so I need to make sure things are in order.
I have not done a two week vacation in a long time and I have anxiety - a payroll will be processed while I am gone in record time as it will be issued right before the 4th of July.
I am looking forward to this trip and there has been some anxiety like I am 99.9% confident that I don't need a visa to board the ship as we go by Canada and I am not a US citizen but I do have a green card. The consulate gave me conflicting information and then I found tons of stuff saying I will not need one but ultimately it will be up to the customs officer whether I can board the ship or not. Scary right? /I am hopeful. I will pray.
So I think the next few days are going to be super stressful.

Taco Tuesday

 

A couple of weeks ago my dear friend EL came over and we made some skirts. It was a funny night and we had some concerns but I have three new skirts. I wore one of them twice now to work and the other two I have worn once.
Today I was able to wear the red one for the first time and it is so comfy so here is a picture of one of the skirts. It is not the best picture and probably very casual but it works. EL what do you think?

So today being Tuesday I went to El Puesto in la Jolla for Taco Tuesday. It was such a great night. I had a shrimp taco (my favorite) and two salmon tacos. The weather was nice, the food delicious and the company fabulous!!

crazy drivers

So as many of you may or may not know I have had my share of accidents where my car at the time was totaled. So when I drive I am sometimes a bit aware of crazy drivers...you know the ones where they tailgate you or are speeding all over the freeway.

Yesterday I was able to drive to Palm Desert to see my niece perform in her last dance recital and it was fabulous. I love spending time with my family it so much fun since LE is back from Boston.

So last night as I drove up the 74 to the 371 to the 79 to eventually the 15 was my first time driving through those roads at night. It was a nice drive as the roads were clear for the most part and most of the traffic was going into PD. Which basically meant that most cars coming towards me had their high beams on. So call me crazy but when I learned to drive I was taught that when you could see headlights coming towards you from a distance you turned yours to regular beams right? So what gives with these drivers that just drove towards me with the high beams and not turning them down? A couple of times they were a bit blinding and thought "people turn off your high beams".

Then this morning on my way to work there was traffic as usual and I hopped onto the 15 toll lane. I take this section of the toll lane from where it starts to Mirarmar or so because from where it starts to that point there is the junction of the 163 and the long line to get off at Pomerado so the people get crazy. I was ever so glad as I saw the police lights and people standing up on the embankment. I could see quite a few cars involved but was grateful I was in the toll road and not stuck in traffic (I had our monthly Business Financial Review meeting this morning. Later in the day I saw my friend JA posted some pics from the accident and was blown away at how serious it was with 7 people being taken to the hospital. I was once again grateful for my Fastrack and that because I had some near misses of people cutting me off or slamming on their brakes I opt to pay a few cents each morning to avoid those situations. I was also grateful JA went by 5 minutes after the accident occurred.

So with that said, wear your seatbelts, don't drive crazy and if you use your hi beams turn them down when a car is coming towards you.