6 posts tagged “trip”

Denver Trip

Day 3

8-20-08

I love vacations, even when I have to wake up at 6:30 in the very, very AM. Today I have my doctors’ appointment at the Women’s Center for an annual exam I’ve put off for a couple of years. The doctors’ office is close to mom’s work, so she is going to take me on her hour lunch break. Which of course means I had to come to work with her. I could not find a internet connection so I grabbed disk 3 of the second season of Gilmore Girls and am having a small marathon in a corner empty desk. I’ve had 1.5 cups of coffee so far and a single bite of Slim-Fast Optima Chewy Granola Chocolate Chip Bar. I’ve only had one bite because my stomach immediately rejected that single bite and there’s not much chance of me eating anymore unless I become starved. (Which might happen cause, I don’t think mom planned food in this day, lol!) I might have her drop me off at the mall after the doctors’ appt. Yummm, over priced food court pizza…every mall has that right??? One can hope.

The visit was the best one I have had, ever. From now on I have to come to CO once a year for this exam. We ate burgers down in the hospital cafeteria, my Turkey, Bacon Cheeseburger and fries were delicious. Mom dropped me off at the mall where I found the pizza area and grabbed what looked to be a supremely delicious pepperoni/olive pizza, looks can be deceiving. I hate to say it, but this mall was boring. There was not a single place that sold DVD’s or CD’s, and the only electronic store was Radio Shack, I won’t even go into that store as everything is twice the cost it should be. So I found a place to get a 20 minute massage for $20, it felt great! I decided to go for a walk and ended up walking crossing four six lane roads (at the stop lights) and taking a bridge over a highway before finding myself at Mom’s place of work. I may have taken one wrong turn at some point too. But I made it, in thirty minutes no less.

As a person, Mom’s boss is very nice. I may have jumped on him for turning off the air conditioning a little after I arrived because I was still hot from my walk. The sun IS a mile closer after all, and even though I pretty much walk everywhere I can walk to, I still get hot. We had great conversations about school and getting through it and what to do after ward. He told me that I needed to come live in Colorado. A woman mom does not like came in and accused me of being my mom’s replacement. I rolled my eyes. Then it was time to go.

The trip back did not seem to take nearly as long as it did yesterday. Of course I was not feeling sick either. We stopped at King Soopers for a few provisions before making our way the few blocks back to the house. I made a pizza and we lay in bed eating it while watching Eureka, then mom went to bed and I went on to watch Dead Zone, Ghost Hunters International and something else that was so unimpressive apparently, that’s I’ve forgotten what it was!

 

Denver Trip

Day 2

8-19-08

Mother say’s hello!

My day began at 9:45am, when Joy called me to let me know they were up and getting ready… or trying to anyways. So I rolled over reluctantly and grabbed my clothes for the day then left to take a shower. That’s when I realized that the bathroom was built for dwarfs. Needless to say it fit’s mom perfectly, but I’m a little to tall. Didn’t think I would ever say that.

We ate at a little restaurant called Dozens. A cozy, small locally owned restaurant with delicious breakfast/ lunch foods. The place closes at 2PM! I want to get off at two!!

We stopped very quickly at Target for some wiring supplies so that Kyle could fix mom’s TV, and I could grab some Allergy medication. Then headed home where Joy, Landen and I walked to King Soopers to refill mom’s Twizzler supplies and grab some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yummmm.

Joy re packed there bags and soon we were on the road heading for mom’s work. I sadly said goodbye and we parted as they had a plane  to catch, there vacation was over, they were going home.

I went home feeling car sick, though I think I was a little altitude sick. Now I am going to eat leftovers and lay in bed.

Denver Trip

8-18-08

Day 1  

Day one of vacation and I woke up early…darn it! I spent all last night after working until 11:30pm, making sure I could sleep in, but yet excitement can be torture and there I was, wide awake at 8:30am. Gilmore girls was on the TV screen and my laptop open. MP3 player charging and a good story was up on my computer, I spent my extra time relaxing, time flew. Suddenly it was 10:45am, 15 minutes before I was to leave for the airport. Jumping into my clothes and getting the last minute things packed, (computer, charger, MP3, toothbrush and brush…etc) I zipped up the bags and was out of my apartment by 11:03. A breakfast of Grilled Ranch, Bacon Burger from McDonalds and a large Unsweet Ice Tea gave me something to do and settled my stomach on the way to the airport.

I wish Matt could come with me.

We made it to the Frontier Airlines drop off area at 11:55am and I hugged and kissed my fiancé, before grabbing my bags and taking off. No one stood in front of me as I cheerfully checked in and grabbed my boarding pass. I watched as families greeted love ones beyond the security area, and then the soldiers began to come in. You may never see people so excited and happy as you would seeing families greeting a loved one coming home from War. Pictures, banners and camouflage merged together in a tight hug of laughing and crying. I paused for a moment to watch before heading for security.

This was the easiest security check in I have had by far. Show your ticket and ID, grab a tray, pull out computer and put it in tray along with shoes, engagement ring and anything in my pockets. Set bag behind tray and push it through the machine while I walk through another machine. Get a nod from security and grab my things. Five minutes top. None of that: selected for full throttle screening in another direction then everyone else is going in.

I found my gate quickly. A30, the very last gate in this area but it wasn’t that far away. I’ve been on flights where the gate had to have been a mile though a maze of corridors and down two or three rolling side walks in the past. Grabbing some Southwest eggrolls and a drink from Chilies I’m looking forward to starting the next leg of my journey, which should begin boarding in about 30 minutes! In the meantime I’m going to sit back, relax and watch planes taxi by and really dark clouds coming in…uh oh…

We got on the plane quickly, with the storm coming in fast they herded the passengers before us off the plane and herded us on in a hurry. It worked; we took off earlier then out departure time in the beginning of the storm. The seatbelt sign remained on for a lot longer then in normally would have for good reason, turbulence.  The pilot went up quick going above all the clouds and we ended up landing in Denver 30 minutes early. I called my mom while we were taxing down the runway to our gate A27 I think, and she took off from work happy as can be.

Mom got a new job just before I got here! Go mom, so she turned in her two week notice before leaving to pick me up. I’m so happy for her. She picked me up in passenger pick up just after I got there myself, and we took off for home. I love her little house. I’ll try and get pictures of it before I leave. We sat around for awhile, and then took a nice walk. I took random pictures like I love to do and then my sister Joy, her husband Kyle and there 9 year old son (my nephew) Landan came back from there adventure in the mountains and it felt SO good seeing them again. We talked for awhile, catching up, I showed off my engagement ring and made Matt talk to everyone via the phone.

Stomachs growling we headed off to Willi G’s. I learned that Joy does NOT like seafood either, we both love blackberries and Kyle is allergic to chocolate! I almost disowned him right there, but alas, it’s not like he does not like it, he does, he just cant eat it in fear of dying. So I’ll let him stay in the family. Did you know that I’m the second tallest in this house right now? Kyle is slightly taller then me. I’m the tallest women here!

Road Trip: Day Two: Three State Run

10-1-07

The morning began early enough, around 7 something. We were clean, dressed and packed with in the hour and after watching a piece of the scary, new Wonka movie, we drove off, away from the sun. A quick breakfast at McDonalds and we were off, stopping here and there for restroom breaks and snacks. We finally got to El Paso at I don't even know what time, where I went to my first Casino. Spending $11, we left the time part of New Mexico and headed to Olive Garden only to find that we would have to wait for a table. We left and ended up at Double Daves Pizza. Completely full, we set out again.

 

 

Five miles later and what I thought was impossible happened, we left Texas. New Mexico was a comparatively short drive with a great view of a storm.

We stopped at a rest stop in Arizona at around 3pm and stayed for awhile dad talked to Mom K on the phone.

According to a sign at this rest stop, you can poop in it, pee in it, wash your hands in it, but whatever you do, don't drink the water!

In Stein New Mexico you will find a small closed down ghost town. I wonder as I get out to take pictures from beyond the gate keeping me from going into the town; if this ghost town is closed for the season or for good.

 

 

 

For about 200 miles, driving down I-10 with nothing but dirt, mountain's, hills and small desert bushes; signs will appear advertising The Thing? Have you seen it? My dad as a young child used to make this trip all the time with his dad and would always ask him if he could see The Thing? His dad told him it was a scam and would never pull in. Dad, on his way to military training began to see the signs again. Out of curiosity he pulled in and saw The Thing? So as we drove down the road and the signs began to appear dad began to get my interest going I found myself waiting for the next sign to find out how far away we were. Finally, hours and hours later we were there. So what is The Thing?

 

 

I'm not say saying!

We found ourselves in Phoenix Arizona in the end, where we stayed at LQ, with wireless access. Yay!

 

 

 

Road Trip: Day One: Texas Never Ending

9-30-07

My day began around 8:30am when my dad called me to let me know he was on the way. Now he only lives around 45 minutes and I still had to shower, shave my furry legs and finish packing so after laying in bed long enough to remember everything that still needed to be done I rolled off it in a panic. Late, late, late. I muttered as I ran for my closet looking for clothes and finding I had packed most of it. I ended up in a gray GAP (God Answers Prayers) shirt and a blue skirt of which had gray sequins on it. Throwing them into my gold handed down rocking chair I ran for the bathroom and realized just how long it had been since I shaved. I won't get into details, but let's just say I went through two razors.

 

 

Forty-five minutes later I was just finishing getting into my outfit when my doorbell rang and I let my dad in, thankful that I had done a fairly good cleaning job on my apartment the night before. I left dad to play with my upset cat while I finished packing, things like my computer, toothbrush and paste. All things I needed (or thought I would need) that morning. Five minutes later and I dragged my cat off my suet case for the second time before telling him to be good while I was gone, and not to break anything in his rage of being left behind...again. We left quickly after and made our way to the Waffle House to meet Mom K for brunch. I found out that the original plan was to go with Mom up to San Antonio, where we would see Grandpa Norris and Grandma Fern. (Norris is on a short weekend vacation from the hospital, and is spending it at home.) We would split up from there and Dad and I would be on our way. Mom could not get anyone to cover her shift at the restaurant however so dad and I took off on our own.

 

 

 

Drinks were stored into an ice chest as soon as we bought one at a stop about an hour into our travels. And snacks were stored away for times when we would need it. We made several more stops including one to the Buck-ees convenient store that must have been the only store in the entire town it was in. Everything within was no doubt Beaver approved. And the place was crowded! I needed to go to the restroom but I sure did not do it there!

 

 

 

Dinner was eaten in Orzona at the Hitchen Post, which used to be a farm. We entered Fort Stockton around 8pm, only to find that all of the hotels except the Motel 6 was booked. So we stayed in room 148 with two beds, no coffee machine, a shower that looks like is should be on a space station and a cigarette tray turned upside down with a no smoking sign on the bottom. Go figure.

I'm starting to think were never going to get out of Texas.

8-8-07

My journey really began at 11pm last night when my aunt picked me up after a 12 hour night shift. We arrived at Aunt Debbie's house at around midnight where after an hour or so we finally settled down to fall asleep. Three hours later I wake to Aunt Debbie tapping my shoulder. It was 4am and time to go. I stumbled along making sure I had everything before we begin to load the car, leaving at 4:18am. We arrived at the airport around 5 am where we had to first wait for the shuttle, then wait to be dropped off. (We were the last.) By this time we had less then an hour to wait to be checked in, get out luggage set up, get trough security and make it to our terminal on the other side of the world. :)

Thank God getting my ticket was not hard, nor was going through security as I thought it was going to be. This was the part I was dreading the most since I have been having so much troubles with it lately. I really don't remember to much from early this morning while I waited to board, I just know that I was on a Frontier Skybus 813...or something like that. I do remember looking out the windows as best as I could from my row seat (8D) and watching the sun rise. Oh and the plane was out of Dr. Pepper.

I excitedly found my Mom J. at my next terminal as she would be flying with us from there. I realized that the lady who gave me my ticket in Houston, forgot to give me my next ticket to Utah so I had to go get one. My cousin Brandy and her finance arrived about the sometime we did from Memphis TN. I got a huge Quizznos and inhaled it as we sat around talking and catching up. (Quizznos was out of DP, too.)

We got so into our discussions that we almost missed our flight, they were giving a final boarding call when we realized it was time to go. This flight was a lot more fun even if I was in the middle seat in the back of the plane. I sat beside this wonderful grandma who held her 8 month old granddaughter most of the trip. I had fun playing with the baby who even kept crawling in my lap to play and at one point laid down to take a nap in my arms. Meanwhile I had some a couple of great conversations with the woman beside me and soon fell asleep for half an hour or so.

Unfortunately even though I had a great but loooonnnnggg day, things continued to run on rocky roads. We quickly found baggage claim as well as Aunt Patsy and Aunt Mickey, all of our bags but mom's came fairly quickly. After watching bags go round and round mom finally found her luggage. We exited the airport and headed over to the Thrifty

Car rental area in a garage of the airport. You want to talk about a group of people who have no idea what so ever as to how to do there jobs! First a woman says that in order to give us the two cars we reserved well ahead of time, we are going to have to show our itinerary. Well no one had printed it out! None of us had ever heard of that rule in our life! The woman disappeared and a man came up, stated we were to late he had given our SUV to someone else. He tried to blame it on us several times before he admitted to double booking. So we got the car we had ordered while we waited for someone to come from the main headquarters to give us a new SUV. They did not do any kind of inspection of the car and when Aunt Debbie found a scratch she quickly told the worker who exclaimed that a yellow form should have been filled out on what was already wrong with the car. Umm, hello??? You gave us the keys to this car, so shouldn't YOU have done the yellow paperwork?!? I don't think he ever did it, and I saw several people come up with the same complaint.

We waited forever before the guy decided to just give us the massive almost bus sized van. We had wanted a van in the first place but they have this rule with the vans, once y you drive it for a hundred and fifty miles your going to be paying a lot extra. We asked the guy if this was going to happen and he said no. I asked him to put that in writing and he handed us our contract for the SUV we never got. He also handed us our keys and took us to the wrong van! After loading it up and getting everyone settled Stacy went to put the key into the ignition only to find that the key would not go in. The van our keys went to went to the next van over. So after unloading the van and reloading the new van we were on our way.

Our first official stop of the day was food. Wendy's appeared and we pulled in with maps and rumbling stomachs. We were there for about an hour talking. We went to Thanksgiving Point to find the young children and my Cousins Carolin and Angela.

We ended up parking and I quickly found the nearest baby to hold as I took pictures and went on horse carriage rides with the other kids. I came away

with a nice sun burn on my face and was ten times more tired, but we had a full day planned and my eyes were not all the way closed yet.

A group of us traveled through the mountains to Park City where we stopped at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics. 

I watched people practice by going down slides on sky\s, up a ramp where they did flips in the air and landed in a pool that was bubbling so that it looked like you were landing on snow. Stacy and her son went down a steel bob sled thing

and the walk back up to the main area almost killed me. LOL!

                                                                               

In an attempt to avoid traffic coming back we planned a rout that would take us in the right direction but would not have much traffic we hoped. The road ended up being a windy, rail-less road (hogback)? over mountains of which at one

point we almost drove off the edge of. It took us an hour and a half longer to get to our next destination but it was a beautiful drive. Oh did I mention that we got horribly lost after getting off the road. We now know who NOT to take directions from in the family. <G>

We ate at Famous Daves BBQ, which was kind of funny as half of us just came from Texas. Finally we were told where our hotel was and promptly got lost trying to find it. At Super 8, my room was 109. The lady at the front desk was a complete idiot. Everything you asked her was answered with a wrong answer. Out rooms lights didn't really work and I could not go to sleep until mom got there because I had the keys. She had to go to

Angela's house to get some stuff only to find that they had closed the freeway down, both ways; and there were no side roads to go on. They eventually found away to get to the hotel and I was half asleep watching scrubs when she knocked. I ended up falling asleep a little after midnight.