Oh the innocence of a child. Especially when she is your 1st Grandchild. This is Alaina and she's our adorable little bay doll! Kudos to her talented Mom (and Dad) for putting this great little montage together for us to enjoy!! Go Emily and Kolby!!
It just doesn't get any better than this!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
The Sturgis Report
Well, even though it was almost a month ago I still have fun memories of my 1st road trip to The Sturgis Black Hills Motorcycle Rally.While I had the chance to spend a couple of nights in Sturgis, I have to admit that the journey to and from the destination was way more to my liking than the actual time spent at the destination itself.
Don't get me wrong, I am proud to say I have been there (and actually rode 24oo miles round trip there and back), but now that I have been there, I'll have a new destination in front of my Harley next summer giving way the old "Been there, done that" saying.
While there was plenty to see, clearly the people watching was the most enjoyable thing we did while actually there. There were lot's of people, male and female, that were dressed/acting wild and crazy but I have to be honest, in the town of Sturgis itself, the local law enforcement keeps things pretty tame. There is no public nudity allowed, and while some women walked around in chaps with short short shots, spankies or thongs underneath them, the larger percentage of them should have know better than to subject the rest of us to the train wreck they looked like! What were they thinking!
From what we heard, the really wild things happen in the campgrounds surrounding Sturgis as they are private property. The wild and crazy stuff most people hear happens in Sturgis actaully happens more openly in those spots than in Sturgis itself.
But I did see this :
And this:
Both of these young ladies were working in the bars as bartenders/servers and, thankfully, they could pull off what they were wearing, unlike some of the women on the street.
I did happen to get pictures of some Harley Butts as well. In fact without any type of tracking system, I kept having to guess which states I had not photographed yet and in the end, with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska, I only missed two states from the remaining lower 48( Delaware and South Carolina). You can see those here:
Sturgis Rally Harley Butts
Then there were also a few foreign Harley Butts there too:
Foreign Butts
But we all know Sturgis is all about motorcycles! And here are some shots of a few that I liked:
The bikes of Sturgis 2007
Thursday, August 02, 2007
COMING SOON-STURGIS 2007 REPORT
Yes folks, I'm riding to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year. I'll have a write up upon my return.....
Monday, July 09, 2007
Airplane Farts
Since when is it okay to break wind on a crowded airplane? I can't believe that people have the guts to do that and subject fellow passengers to their rudeness.
I (actually my wife and I) fly maybe 3-4 times a year, pretty consistently for the past 6 or 7 years. It seems to me that in the last couple of years, and especially in the last 6-9 months that there is a class of people who don't care about subjecting others to the rotten smell of a "silent but deadly" F-A-R-T in the enclosed confines of a jet airplane flying over 400 mph at 32,ooo feet.. I mean c'mon now people, where have our manners gone?
We flew to Mexico this past March and my wife and I did not have seats near each other. I was stuck in the middle seat between a couple of college guys heading down for a bit of spring break. It wasn't long before my eyes were watering and the smell was making me think I was flying in an airborne Honey Bucket.
I finally told these two young guys, "Look fellas, I'm not not sure which one of you is thinking you're getting away with cutting the cheese but one of you needs to go check your drawers and flush out your digestive system!. Of course neither of them would admit it but I had my suspicions.
Last night my wife and I were on our way back from California and as we were waiting to get off the plane once we were on the ground in Seattle, as everyone was getting up to unload, a lovely aroma attacked the rows we were in and clearly we were not the only ones who were coughing and had watery eyes.
What a bunch of inconsiderate pigs we have turned into....at least use the restroom or exit the plane....
I (actually my wife and I) fly maybe 3-4 times a year, pretty consistently for the past 6 or 7 years. It seems to me that in the last couple of years, and especially in the last 6-9 months that there is a class of people who don't care about subjecting others to the rotten smell of a "silent but deadly" F-A-R-T in the enclosed confines of a jet airplane flying over 400 mph at 32,ooo feet.. I mean c'mon now people, where have our manners gone?
We flew to Mexico this past March and my wife and I did not have seats near each other. I was stuck in the middle seat between a couple of college guys heading down for a bit of spring break. It wasn't long before my eyes were watering and the smell was making me think I was flying in an airborne Honey Bucket.
I finally told these two young guys, "Look fellas, I'm not not sure which one of you is thinking you're getting away with cutting the cheese but one of you needs to go check your drawers and flush out your digestive system!. Of course neither of them would admit it but I had my suspicions.
Last night my wife and I were on our way back from California and as we were waiting to get off the plane once we were on the ground in Seattle, as everyone was getting up to unload, a lovely aroma attacked the rows we were in and clearly we were not the only ones who were coughing and had watery eyes.
What a bunch of inconsiderate pigs we have turned into....at least use the restroom or exit the plane....
Monday, July 02, 2007
New Skin
A fresh coat of paint...looks like new skin and feels like a comfortable new pair of shoes a or good warm coat on a cold winter day. I admire artists and craftsmen that have the patience for this type of work because I sure don't. The two things I hate to do the most are painting and moving...usually they happen at the same time or one is the result of the other. This time we're not moving and have no plans to, we just needed a fresh coat of paint on the house.
We like the look, the neighbors have commented positively, in fact one neighbor hired the guy who painted our house to paint his (where's my discount??!!)
Here's an odd twist to this story...we chose this paint color quite awhile ago and had to wait for the time slot available to get the job done. In the meantime we've become involved in a new business venture involving chocolate...now we live in a chocolate colored house..Is that weird of what!
Monday, June 11, 2007
A wet 630 miles
I took a little ride on my Harley last week from Coeur d Alene down US95 to Donnelly, 309 miles due south out of my driveway.
I left at 11am and, like most of my rides, once the destination is locked and loaded in my brain cells, I am eager to get going and experience the ride. This time it was wet though.
I left Coeur d Alene in a driving rainstorm, all geared up in my rain suit, heated jacket liner and a pair of new heated gloves. This time I wore my full face helmet rather than my half helmet and was thankful I did. Rain isn't fun hitting exposed skin at 7o miles an hour. Feels like someone is rapidly poking you nonstop with straight pins.
I had not been down US95 past Potlach for quite sometime so, from this point on, it was a nice ride seeing things I hadn't in a long time. Being the eastern edge of the Palouse, it is a beautiful time to ride this stretch of highway in the early spring when the fields are so green and everything is in bloom. The rolling hills are fun on a motorcycle too, rain or not.
The rain stopped briefly just before Moscow and as I rode into the town there is a spot where you're up on the hill and can see the city in the distance. I couldn't help but think about the horror this little town experienced a few weeks ago when a sniper went off the deep end. In my estimation he was coward....he gave that rifle a blow job and ended his own life after taking the lives of others...what a weakling. I bet it's blazing hot where he is at right now.
Onward down the Lewiston grade into the industrial pit of the Lewiston area for a quick fuel up and then keep rolling. Up onto the Camas prairie, again beautiful and green in the spring rain. it rained hard too. Did you know there is a Bed and Breakfast in Cottonwood that has a guest room built in the shape of a dog? There are also a huge number of large wooden railroad trestles along the route.
By the time I got past Grangeville and to the top of Whitebird it was a torrential downpour but by then I was halfway to my goal and not gonna stop. Besides I was warm and relatively dry in my gear, just a little tense from the driving conditions.
Two things about being on motorcycle in the driving rain...paint stripes are like ice on the road in winter and the metal parts of bridges/abutments/railroad tracks are slippery as well. Your fear of hydroplaning keeps you (or should keep you) on your toes. The ruts in the road can become little rivers of runoff and the the thought of the rear end of the bike slipping out from under you on curves is constant. But that's what makes me be extra safe and make it back home.
My wife knows how much I love to ride but I also know how much she worries while I'm gone. Every stop I make, usually 5-10 minutes every 1-1/2 to 2 hours, I call to let her know I'm okay or leave a voicemail telling her as much.
Once down the grade and running along the river into Riggins it warmed up but was still wet. Climbing up out of Riggins along the Little Salmon River toward New Meadows offers a beautiful drive with lots of views of the tumbling water, including some great waterfalls.
On through the rain and McCall heading toward Donnelly, ultimately wanting to make it to Tamarack Resort. Talk about construction, the resort being built here is costing almost $1 Billion (yes with a B) by the time it is all done and over with. Condos, hotels, ski resort, golf course and multi million dollar homes set on the edge of National Forest land. There are over 1000 workers there now just building things.
My trip was to meet up with my best friend and ride back with him. He had ridden his Harley down to attend a business meeting at the resort a day earlier.
We left Wednesday morning to return north and fortunately the weather was much better. No rain, lots of wind but dry roads. Total miles were 630 round trip and an average mpg of 42.6.
I left at 11am and, like most of my rides, once the destination is locked and loaded in my brain cells, I am eager to get going and experience the ride. This time it was wet though.
I left Coeur d Alene in a driving rainstorm, all geared up in my rain suit, heated jacket liner and a pair of new heated gloves. This time I wore my full face helmet rather than my half helmet and was thankful I did. Rain isn't fun hitting exposed skin at 7o miles an hour. Feels like someone is rapidly poking you nonstop with straight pins.
I had not been down US95 past Potlach for quite sometime so, from this point on, it was a nice ride seeing things I hadn't in a long time. Being the eastern edge of the Palouse, it is a beautiful time to ride this stretch of highway in the early spring when the fields are so green and everything is in bloom. The rolling hills are fun on a motorcycle too, rain or not.
The rain stopped briefly just before Moscow and as I rode into the town there is a spot where you're up on the hill and can see the city in the distance. I couldn't help but think about the horror this little town experienced a few weeks ago when a sniper went off the deep end. In my estimation he was coward....he gave that rifle a blow job and ended his own life after taking the lives of others...what a weakling. I bet it's blazing hot where he is at right now.
Onward down the Lewiston grade into the industrial pit of the Lewiston area for a quick fuel up and then keep rolling. Up onto the Camas prairie, again beautiful and green in the spring rain. it rained hard too. Did you know there is a Bed and Breakfast in Cottonwood that has a guest room built in the shape of a dog? There are also a huge number of large wooden railroad trestles along the route.
By the time I got past Grangeville and to the top of Whitebird it was a torrential downpour but by then I was halfway to my goal and not gonna stop. Besides I was warm and relatively dry in my gear, just a little tense from the driving conditions.
Two things about being on motorcycle in the driving rain...paint stripes are like ice on the road in winter and the metal parts of bridges/abutments/railroad tracks are slippery as well. Your fear of hydroplaning keeps you (or should keep you) on your toes. The ruts in the road can become little rivers of runoff and the the thought of the rear end of the bike slipping out from under you on curves is constant. But that's what makes me be extra safe and make it back home.
My wife knows how much I love to ride but I also know how much she worries while I'm gone. Every stop I make, usually 5-10 minutes every 1-1/2 to 2 hours, I call to let her know I'm okay or leave a voicemail telling her as much.
Once down the grade and running along the river into Riggins it warmed up but was still wet. Climbing up out of Riggins along the Little Salmon River toward New Meadows offers a beautiful drive with lots of views of the tumbling water, including some great waterfalls.
On through the rain and McCall heading toward Donnelly, ultimately wanting to make it to Tamarack Resort. Talk about construction, the resort being built here is costing almost $1 Billion (yes with a B) by the time it is all done and over with. Condos, hotels, ski resort, golf course and multi million dollar homes set on the edge of National Forest land. There are over 1000 workers there now just building things.
My trip was to meet up with my best friend and ride back with him. He had ridden his Harley down to attend a business meeting at the resort a day earlier.
We left Wednesday morning to return north and fortunately the weather was much better. No rain, lots of wind but dry roads. Total miles were 630 round trip and an average mpg of 42.6.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Things I am Grateful For
A wife who I love with all my heart and gives me lots of love back. I truly feel we have a special relationship that neither of us takes for granted. I enjoy life because she is with me.
2 sons and their significant others (1 Daughter-in-law and 1 Girlfriend) who I am proud of and want the best for.
The relationships I have with both Kolby and Kaleb, individually. They are my Son's and I am the Dad but we're friends too and I love them more than they'll ever know.
A Granddaughter, not even a year old, who makes me happy and proud as well.
2 dogs who teach me how the big picture is always much better than things sometimes appear to be. As the saying goes...If I could only be the person they think I am.
A very hard and painful divorce that was the best thing to happen to me, though it was hard to see at the time. I don't wish anyone any will ill, even in that type of situation. Having gone through it and being on this side, it is so easy to see the pain was worth it, otherwise I wouldn't be able to be thankful for some of things in this post!
Memories of my parents that bring a smile to me and thoughts of things I wish they were here to experience with me now.
Our emergence from a very tough financial situation after having closed a business. Thank God for Lori and her patience in enduring what I put us though financially. It's paying off now.
A Mother-in-Law who is the greatest. She is such a strong woman and has great love for my wife and her other other kids/grandkids. I feel lucky to be included.
Living in a great place (Coeur d Alene) and in a great house and neighborhood.
My job. I get to help people.. It has a noble purpose to it from all sides and done right, I get paid very well.
My close personal friends. As a guy in his mid-40's my male friends are important to me. My best friend and I have known each other for over 30 years since school. I don't know what I'd do without that relationship and what is gives me. My other guy friends mean a lot to me as well, we are there for each other.
Patience and perseverance. Both have helped me get past a lot of crap and realize that sometimes good things take a while to make their way to you, but if you're patient it will come.
My ability to look at life as a "glass half full" not as a "glass half empty".
A belief that I am worthy of all the good things in my life and look forward to all sorts of more good things (material and otherwise).
2 sons and their significant others (1 Daughter-in-law and 1 Girlfriend) who I am proud of and want the best for.
The relationships I have with both Kolby and Kaleb, individually. They are my Son's and I am the Dad but we're friends too and I love them more than they'll ever know.
A Granddaughter, not even a year old, who makes me happy and proud as well.
2 dogs who teach me how the big picture is always much better than things sometimes appear to be. As the saying goes...If I could only be the person they think I am.
A very hard and painful divorce that was the best thing to happen to me, though it was hard to see at the time. I don't wish anyone any will ill, even in that type of situation. Having gone through it and being on this side, it is so easy to see the pain was worth it, otherwise I wouldn't be able to be thankful for some of things in this post!
Memories of my parents that bring a smile to me and thoughts of things I wish they were here to experience with me now.
Our emergence from a very tough financial situation after having closed a business. Thank God for Lori and her patience in enduring what I put us though financially. It's paying off now.
A Mother-in-Law who is the greatest. She is such a strong woman and has great love for my wife and her other other kids/grandkids. I feel lucky to be included.
Living in a great place (Coeur d Alene) and in a great house and neighborhood.
My job. I get to help people.. It has a noble purpose to it from all sides and done right, I get paid very well.
My close personal friends. As a guy in his mid-40's my male friends are important to me. My best friend and I have known each other for over 30 years since school. I don't know what I'd do without that relationship and what is gives me. My other guy friends mean a lot to me as well, we are there for each other.
Patience and perseverance. Both have helped me get past a lot of crap and realize that sometimes good things take a while to make their way to you, but if you're patient it will come.
My ability to look at life as a "glass half full" not as a "glass half empty".
A belief that I am worthy of all the good things in my life and look forward to all sorts of more good things (material and otherwise).
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Lawn Mowing Time Again
Well, spring is here or at least very close. I've had to mow my lawn twice already!
We live in a nice Coeur d Alene neighborhood. Not a cookie cutter subdivision but a neighborhood with nice sized lots and a mix of older (20+ years) and newer (ours is 10 years old).
Our house is on a large lot on a corner as you come into our neighborhood. It's in what I refer to as the "Pole Position", the 1st one seen by everyone coming around the bend in the road.
I like pole position. I work hard to have a nice looking lawn and flower beds. In a couple of more weeks the flowers will get planted and the added color will be nice. Being on the corner I have large area that takes a lot of flowers to fill up so once they are all planted and blooming the look is quite dramatic for those folks driving into the neighborhood.
My Dad passed this onto me because he always had the best looking lawn in the house we grew up in in Pasco, Wa. He was disabled but could get around the yard easily so he was always working to keep it looking nice. He passed away almost 20 years ago and to this day I miss going over to his house and mowing his lawn for him.
Some people may call me weird but I mow my lawn a different direction every time. It is better for the grass and and I always alternate the mowing pattern to make the grass look cool in a major league ball park sort of way! I never butcher it too short either, keeping it a little taller makes it look better than being scalped the way most of my neigbors do theirs!
I've mowed straight lines, diagonal lines, checkerboard lines and wavy lines on the 4th of July that look like a flag in the wind. It's a guy thing I guess!
The style of our house is such that is has an old-fashioned wrap around porch that when all the hanging baskets and flower beds are blooming and the yard is deep green and trimmed nice and neat, she's a real beauty......One to be proud of....Nothing better than being out front and watering the flowers on a warm summer eve and have neighbors or even strangers stop and tell me how nice it looks. That's something I like.
We live in a nice Coeur d Alene neighborhood. Not a cookie cutter subdivision but a neighborhood with nice sized lots and a mix of older (20+ years) and newer (ours is 10 years old).
Our house is on a large lot on a corner as you come into our neighborhood. It's in what I refer to as the "Pole Position", the 1st one seen by everyone coming around the bend in the road.
I like pole position. I work hard to have a nice looking lawn and flower beds. In a couple of more weeks the flowers will get planted and the added color will be nice. Being on the corner I have large area that takes a lot of flowers to fill up so once they are all planted and blooming the look is quite dramatic for those folks driving into the neighborhood.
My Dad passed this onto me because he always had the best looking lawn in the house we grew up in in Pasco, Wa. He was disabled but could get around the yard easily so he was always working to keep it looking nice. He passed away almost 20 years ago and to this day I miss going over to his house and mowing his lawn for him.
Some people may call me weird but I mow my lawn a different direction every time. It is better for the grass and and I always alternate the mowing pattern to make the grass look cool in a major league ball park sort of way! I never butcher it too short either, keeping it a little taller makes it look better than being scalped the way most of my neigbors do theirs!
I've mowed straight lines, diagonal lines, checkerboard lines and wavy lines on the 4th of July that look like a flag in the wind. It's a guy thing I guess!
The style of our house is such that is has an old-fashioned wrap around porch that when all the hanging baskets and flower beds are blooming and the yard is deep green and trimmed nice and neat, she's a real beauty......One to be proud of....Nothing better than being out front and watering the flowers on a warm summer eve and have neighbors or even strangers stop and tell me how nice it looks. That's something I like.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Hot Dogs and Cupcakes
Well, after a nice and relaxing vacation to Mexico we are back in the groove and ready to enjoy spring and summer in Coeur d Alene (counting yesterday we can throw winter back in the mix a time or two as well!).
Before we headed to Mexico on the 24th we spent a couple of days with the kids and grandbaby in LA and we visited a couple of cool food related places I wanted to share with everyone.
It all starts off with my wife Lori and I enjoying finding food places that have a bit of history to them, whether local or national, and then going and trying them out. We always are on the prowl for a good hot dog and we have eaten them in New Orleans (Lucky Dogs), New York City (Nathan's and Papaya King) and now in Los Angeles (actually in West Hollywood at Pink's)
I have tried to think of a way to describe a Pink's hot dog and have to use my wife's description here, she's the hot dog aficionado. She always has to have Coney Sauce on her dogs and I am more of a mayo/relish/mustard/ketchup/onion type of hot dogger. At Pinks I decided to have one with Coney Sauce as well. Great choice!
As Lori so succinctly puts it...they "snap" when you bite them . She taught me long ago the true sign of a great hot dog is that "snap" when you bite it. Without out that they are just another in the family of mediocre hot dogs.
Well let me tell you, Pink's hot dogs "snap" perfectly when you bite them. And the Coney Sauce is to die for (I may have become a convert to Coney Sauce after this). Their Coney Sauce is not like chili. It's not runny and wet. It is made such that is does not get the bun soggy and it doesn't leak out of the bun either. Thats' because the dress the hot dog itself with the sauce not just cover it and the bun with it. Man it was killer! The flavor was perfect too.
This place is located in the heart of West Hollywood and there is lot's happening there. It is near the corner of Melrose and La Brea and it packs a lot of Hollywood history. Many movies scenes and commercials have been filmed there and it is a great palce to people watch. It's wall's are loaded with all kinds of pictures of famous stars who have autographed pictures hanging there. Home of a great Coney Dog (plus many other types of hot dogs) it's cool to say we have been there.
Another place fast becoming popular that we visited was a Sprinkles Cupcake store in Beverly Hills on Santa Monica Blvd. not far from Rodeo Drive and all the glam and glitter that is in that part of town. If you have never heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes that's okay because thanks to Oprah everyone is just learning about them and they are fast becoming a decadent little treat that are worthy of trying at least once. You can order the mix online but to have a fresh baked cupcake you need to visit their store and that is the way to go. They have other locations in the U.S. but nothing in the Northwest. I'd put them in the same category as a Trader Joe's store or a Whole Foods Market...more of a big city type of thing.
The Red Velvet cupcake is the best but I also had a Black and White which was great too. I'm sure the frosting is not low-cal and it was yummy! The cake itself is fresh and moist and worth every penny. We were there on a Friday and were leaving for Mexico the next day. Since we were meeting some friends at LAX to fly to Mexico we bought a dozen (Yowzah!! $44 for a dozen cupcakes!) and shared them with the kids and ourselves and then took six to the airport to share with our friends.
That's what vacations are for...doing something different and splurging a little....no better way to do that than to enjoy some good food and treats! (Beside the fact that we can say we been there when someone asks have you ever been to or heard of......?
Before we headed to Mexico on the 24th we spent a couple of days with the kids and grandbaby in LA and we visited a couple of cool food related places I wanted to share with everyone.
It all starts off with my wife Lori and I enjoying finding food places that have a bit of history to them, whether local or national, and then going and trying them out. We always are on the prowl for a good hot dog and we have eaten them in New Orleans (Lucky Dogs), New York City (Nathan's and Papaya King) and now in Los Angeles (actually in West Hollywood at Pink's)
I have tried to think of a way to describe a Pink's hot dog and have to use my wife's description here, she's the hot dog aficionado. She always has to have Coney Sauce on her dogs and I am more of a mayo/relish/mustard/ketchup/onion type of hot dogger. At Pinks I decided to have one with Coney Sauce as well. Great choice!
As Lori so succinctly puts it...they "snap" when you bite them . She taught me long ago the true sign of a great hot dog is that "snap" when you bite it. Without out that they are just another in the family of mediocre hot dogs.
Well let me tell you, Pink's hot dogs "snap" perfectly when you bite them. And the Coney Sauce is to die for (I may have become a convert to Coney Sauce after this). Their Coney Sauce is not like chili. It's not runny and wet. It is made such that is does not get the bun soggy and it doesn't leak out of the bun either. Thats' because the dress the hot dog itself with the sauce not just cover it and the bun with it. Man it was killer! The flavor was perfect too.
This place is located in the heart of West Hollywood and there is lot's happening there. It is near the corner of Melrose and La Brea and it packs a lot of Hollywood history. Many movies scenes and commercials have been filmed there and it is a great palce to people watch. It's wall's are loaded with all kinds of pictures of famous stars who have autographed pictures hanging there. Home of a great Coney Dog (plus many other types of hot dogs) it's cool to say we have been there.
Another place fast becoming popular that we visited was a Sprinkles Cupcake store in Beverly Hills on Santa Monica Blvd. not far from Rodeo Drive and all the glam and glitter that is in that part of town. If you have never heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes that's okay because thanks to Oprah everyone is just learning about them and they are fast becoming a decadent little treat that are worthy of trying at least once. You can order the mix online but to have a fresh baked cupcake you need to visit their store and that is the way to go. They have other locations in the U.S. but nothing in the Northwest. I'd put them in the same category as a Trader Joe's store or a Whole Foods Market...more of a big city type of thing.
The Red Velvet cupcake is the best but I also had a Black and White which was great too. I'm sure the frosting is not low-cal and it was yummy! The cake itself is fresh and moist and worth every penny. We were there on a Friday and were leaving for Mexico the next day. Since we were meeting some friends at LAX to fly to Mexico we bought a dozen (Yowzah!! $44 for a dozen cupcakes!) and shared them with the kids and ourselves and then took six to the airport to share with our friends.
That's what vacations are for...doing something different and splurging a little....no better way to do that than to enjoy some good food and treats! (Beside the fact that we can say we been there when someone asks have you ever been to or heard of......?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Vacation Time Is Near
Well, in less than 24 hours, the woman who matters the most to me, and I will be heading to the airport to begin a long awaited vacation to Manzanillo, Mexico, a little piece of paradise on the Pacific Coast south of Puerto Vallarta. It's an easy flight from here to LA then direct to Manzanillo and the same coming home, Manzanillo to LA then direct back to Spokane. Gotta love Alaska Airlines!
This trip we are going a couple of days early to see my son, his wife and granddaughter in LA(Yaaay!) and then we are meeting two other North Idaho couples Saturday at LAX and heading south to sunshine and cervezas!
We've been going to Mexico for 8 years now and for the last 7 we have stayed in houses/villas that can be rented by the day or week. We got tired real fast of the airfare/hotel packages and the crowds associated with the bigger resort hotels. I can't remember how many times I did that in the past and had to get up at the crack of dawn to just get a decent lounge chair by the pool!
This year we return to a villa we were at last year with some friends who had bought a week at it during a charity auction. You can see pictures of it right here. Manzanillo Villa Pictures. Click on the link and look for the other link to start a slide show to view the villa.
What a great place it is. Private, exclusive, affordable and beautiful place to spend a week in the warm Mexican sunshine.
The husband and wife team of Pablo and Rosa spoil us to no end while there. Margaritas, Pina Coladas and cold cervezas...all by the pool ... We usually have one dinner out at a restaurant but Rosa and Pablo make the best authentic Mexican food and when we buy the groceries it adds to the affordability of staying at this type of place...no overpriced tourist meals. What a great time it will be.
The house/pet sitter is set for the time we are gone and we will be able to relax without worry. Mexico has lots of Internet cafes so maybe I'll make a brief blog post from south of the border. . . provided I feel like slipping on my flip flops and leaving the pool area....:)
This trip we are going a couple of days early to see my son, his wife and granddaughter in LA(Yaaay!) and then we are meeting two other North Idaho couples Saturday at LAX and heading south to sunshine and cervezas!
We've been going to Mexico for 8 years now and for the last 7 we have stayed in houses/villas that can be rented by the day or week. We got tired real fast of the airfare/hotel packages and the crowds associated with the bigger resort hotels. I can't remember how many times I did that in the past and had to get up at the crack of dawn to just get a decent lounge chair by the pool!
This year we return to a villa we were at last year with some friends who had bought a week at it during a charity auction. You can see pictures of it right here. Manzanillo Villa Pictures. Click on the link and look for the other link to start a slide show to view the villa.
What a great place it is. Private, exclusive, affordable and beautiful place to spend a week in the warm Mexican sunshine.
The husband and wife team of Pablo and Rosa spoil us to no end while there. Margaritas, Pina Coladas and cold cervezas...all by the pool ... We usually have one dinner out at a restaurant but Rosa and Pablo make the best authentic Mexican food and when we buy the groceries it adds to the affordability of staying at this type of place...no overpriced tourist meals. What a great time it will be.
The house/pet sitter is set for the time we are gone and we will be able to relax without worry. Mexico has lots of Internet cafes so maybe I'll make a brief blog post from south of the border. . . provided I feel like slipping on my flip flops and leaving the pool area....:)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Happy Birthday Mom
I miss my Mom. She passed away almost 5 years ago and like most deaths it was so unexpected and so hard to believe that she was gone.
Today would have been her 67th Birthday. She was a great woman and for as dysfunctional as I think our family was sometimes, Mom was the glue that held it all together.
Fortunately the last 5 years or so of her life I was in a position with my life and the changes that I was going through that she and I were able to have more time together in those 5 years than most of the previous 15 or so. That doesn't mean it was easy, but looking back on it, I am thankful that we had that time to be closer.
The sadness that fills my heart sometimes comes from knowing she's not here, physically, to be a part of our lives. But I also know that she'd be (or is) proud of all of her kids and the things that are going on in our crazy lives. With me being a new Grandfather as of last July and my sister being a new Grandmother as of December, I think my Mom would have been a fantastic Great Grandma to the new additions in our family.
I am grateful that she got to know my new wife Lori and that Lori got to know her. Mom taught me how to love and respect others and she also taught me that Mom's are always there, no matter what. I miss her but I know I am a better man because of her love.
Happy Birthday Mom......
Today would have been her 67th Birthday. She was a great woman and for as dysfunctional as I think our family was sometimes, Mom was the glue that held it all together.
Fortunately the last 5 years or so of her life I was in a position with my life and the changes that I was going through that she and I were able to have more time together in those 5 years than most of the previous 15 or so. That doesn't mean it was easy, but looking back on it, I am thankful that we had that time to be closer.
The sadness that fills my heart sometimes comes from knowing she's not here, physically, to be a part of our lives. But I also know that she'd be (or is) proud of all of her kids and the things that are going on in our crazy lives. With me being a new Grandfather as of last July and my sister being a new Grandmother as of December, I think my Mom would have been a fantastic Great Grandma to the new additions in our family.
I am grateful that she got to know my new wife Lori and that Lori got to know her. Mom taught me how to love and respect others and she also taught me that Mom's are always there, no matter what. I miss her but I know I am a better man because of her love.
Happy Birthday Mom......
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The 1st post
Until right now I have been a blog-post virgin! This the 1st post I have done on my blog and I have no agenda other than to just see where it goes. I chose the name Road King Ramblings because I own a Harley Davidson Road King Classic and enjoy riding it whenever I can. I figure I'll use some of the rides I venture out on as subjects for posting here.
Spring is getting closer everyday and now with the time change springing us ahead an hour, it is nice to have the extra daylight. I usually get home from work around 5-5:30Pm so the extra light gives me a chance to take the dogs for a walk without it being dark and to do something productive besides sit and watch the evening news or surf the net until Lori finishes up working. It will be nice when the warm weather is here to stay and it becomes time to tend the yard/flowers and sit out on the deck/patio into the evening.
A long awaited vacation trip to Manzanillo, Mexico is on the horizon for us in a little over a week and before that I get to see my Granddaughter Alaina (oh yeah, her parents too! My son Kolby and his wife Emily). They live in LA while my son is studying for his PhD at UCLA. I have not seen her since September last year and she has grown a bunch! Lori saw her a couple of weeks ago when she was down in LA for a class and got to spend the night with the kids.....
We got a webcam not long ago and we get to see her that way quite often. She is such a cute little baby girl and her parents are very tech savy so I'm sure it won't be long before she is using a computer herself!
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I could sit at a computer in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and look at my screen and see/hear my son's family live in Los Angeles..... Seems like something right out the Jetsons!
Spring is getting closer everyday and now with the time change springing us ahead an hour, it is nice to have the extra daylight. I usually get home from work around 5-5:30Pm so the extra light gives me a chance to take the dogs for a walk without it being dark and to do something productive besides sit and watch the evening news or surf the net until Lori finishes up working. It will be nice when the warm weather is here to stay and it becomes time to tend the yard/flowers and sit out on the deck/patio into the evening.
A long awaited vacation trip to Manzanillo, Mexico is on the horizon for us in a little over a week and before that I get to see my Granddaughter Alaina (oh yeah, her parents too! My son Kolby and his wife Emily). They live in LA while my son is studying for his PhD at UCLA. I have not seen her since September last year and she has grown a bunch! Lori saw her a couple of weeks ago when she was down in LA for a class and got to spend the night with the kids.....
We got a webcam not long ago and we get to see her that way quite often. She is such a cute little baby girl and her parents are very tech savy so I'm sure it won't be long before she is using a computer herself!
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I could sit at a computer in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and look at my screen and see/hear my son's family live in Los Angeles..... Seems like something right out the Jetsons!
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