Heading West to the Islands
It’s been five years since we last flew with kids.
They bring a lot of stuff.
Backpacks, Barbies, iPods, Nintendo DS’, snacks, food, Sony Readers, crayons, paper, blankets, ….
Okay I guess it’s no different than me.
I have my laptop, my iPhone, wallet, earphones, gum, Seabands for hubby, itinerary, phone charger, iGo charger, computer charger. All in my purse.
So multiply all that junk by 5 and we literally just forgot the kitchen sink.
Plus we checked two large suitcases stuffed full.
Even going to Hawaii, all those swimsuits and skimpy 87-degree weather clothes pile up.
San Francisco airport itself is it’s own entity.
Monday morning crowds are astounding, we were well in the city 2 hours before our flight, but after long-term parking, the shuttle, the check-in, security, and finding our gate, we literally walked straight to boarding.
No coffee, no potty break, no breakfast.
Rush. Rush. Rush.
Then on the plane, everyone wants to empty the contents of their bags to “play.”
Unlike Hawaiian, we have to purchase meals on United and my oldest inhaled a sleeve of salami and a turkey and cheese sandwich in 20 minutes.
Suddenly the tween’s appetite has quadrupled.
My son, a nervous nelly like me stresses and take off, then tries his best to go back to sleep, but can’t.
We’ve all been up since 4:45a.m. our patience, shot.
I look around and see a calm beauty with a BRIDE sweatshirt, JUST MARRIED tee, dutifully writing thank-you notes, skimming her Maui itinerary.
Ahh, the relaxation has already hit her, she simply awaits the islands and her honeymoon.
While I perspire with the five of us tired, disheveled, and obviously ravenous.
2 hours into our flight we’ve spent $65.
I think my next purchase will be a MaiTai and a Xanax chaser.
Did I mention I mixed up Eastbound and Westbound flights, so the movie going over was not RIO, but Arthur with Russell Brand?
Yeah, K was pissed.
Never a dull moment, even on vacation!
Happily we arrived to beautiful Oahu. Aloha!
Sand, Snow, Cactus.
I love where I live.You can be at the beach one weekend.
Strolling the sand, planning our next skim-boarding trip.
Then the next weekend you can head to the mountains.
Suit up in the warmest of clothing.
And, play in the snow.
That's our plan this weekend.
Snowmen. Sleds. Snowshoes. Bitter cold.
With dreams of heading back to the beach after Christmas.
San Diego.
With a hint of the desert (Arizona) in between.
Tis the season.
For fun travel.
Have a great weekend.
The Windy City
I miss Chicago.
Although I was there for only 36 short hours, I fell in love.
The food was incredible. How can I eat another regular pizza again?
I'm sure you've never had a Hoovertini.
Good news is, I survived.
The trip was such a great success.
Internet Media, read my badge.
I had photography rights that only few others had. I felt a sense of power, I admit.
I got *~~~* that close to Paula Deen. The Queen of
I met other women, mothers, bloggers that were beautiful inside and out.
And...I only broke out once. It was with Holly, dang it, at the end of the last hour of my trip. Luckily I had a spare antihistamine and didn't have to bring out a bandaid and lie about some shaving accident. By my eye.
Anyway.
Lucky for me, I met some great new friends, Mari and Rich.
They were generous enough to give me a tour of the city, bring me Chicago pizza, Garrett's popcorn, and offer an appreciation of the city I had come to visit.
96 floors off the ground is the Signature Lounge in the Hancock Building.
Literally in the clouds, the view is stunning.
At the International Home and Housewares show, I cleaned up a little Gatorade spill with the Hoover FloorMate. Then washed and dried the floor. With the same machine. Which was awesome.
Honey, I promise to do this at home too.
I got the blues...
in a good way of course!
...did I mention the Hoovertinis (with Lee, Jessi, and Ruth)?
....more to come....
