Wyoming

We just took a little vacation up to the great state of Wyoming. And as we made our way up through Utah and then Jackson and even Yellowstone...I decided that I didn't really like Wyoming. It was so...desert-y, and sage-y, and dusty, and dry. I am not really a desert person, and I was so surprised to find out that Wyoming is pretty much a desert state. Who knew?? (Well, probably everyone but me!)

But then we came to Cody, and something in me changed. Cody felt different. After we had been there for a few days I realized that I had completely fallen in love with that little town. With the community and the landscape and the mom-and-pop-ness of it. With the wildness and the western-ness and culture of it.

It made me feel small and safe and free all at the same time.

The sky was so very big, and even the clouds looked to be as big as a whole cities. There was a great vastness to the open space...it made me feel very small. Like a mere speck on this grand creation we call Earth.

The mountains were big and rolling and many, and they surrounded the town on all sides like a fortress. The legend of William F Cody was alive and well, and it seemed to pour out of everywhere. And it made me feel safe... to be inside a fortress guarded by the world-renowned marksman known as Buffalo Bill.

The sunshine was brilliant. The fresh air seemed to be without limit and the wildness lay just beyond view. And I felt as free as I have ever felt.

It all made me feel closer to God, and I am not sure why.

But on our last day there, we visited the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. A movie about Bill Cody was played somewhere along the way and I was surprised to hear him say the same thing...closer to God.
He said it like this...

The moment [my] show closes, I hike out to the mountains. I like to get close to nature. That’s the only real way to live, after all. The [city dweller] doesn’t know what a true man is like. He hasn’t any chance to know. He never takes a full, deep breath; he never gets his lungs full of air. He can’t do it in [his] low altitude. When I get back in the mountains, in those grand temples that God built, I feel like another being, and I say, as I draw in a full breath of life, “I’m certainly a man!”

I believe that a man gets closer to God out there in the big, free West. It gives him a chance to expand, to know himself, to think.

* Charles Darnton, “’Buffalo Bill’ Cody at Close Range,” unidentified newspaper, April 27, 1907

...and I couldn't agree more.

Rain

This was the sky last night at dinner time.
We ate outside and hoped for raindrops to go with our dinner.
But alas, there wasn't even a sprinkle.
It seems like this California girl may never see rain again.

Travel Tips

I L-O-V-E NYC. It is one of my favorite travel destinations.
The architecture, the museums, the food, Broadway, Times Square, Ellis Island, the shopping.........
I love it so much I have even toyed with the idea of living there for a year.
This, of course, will never happen but I like to think about it.

So when I came across this the other day, travel tips for NYC tourists, I just had to share it with you!

And now you know!

Chocolate from Spain

My friend Theresa is in Spain today.
Without me. (Boo-hoo-hoo.)
But she just sent me this little yummy....


Apparently Spanish hot chocolate is thick like pudding.
And it comes with a side of little churros.
Oh yum!!

Langer's

Are you familiar with Langer's Delicatessen, in Los Angeles,
home of THE World Famous Langer's Pastrami sandwich?

I had not heard of it before my friend Theresa told me about.
She and her hubby went there recently and they loved it.

Now, I love a good pastrami sandwich! So I knew that we would be
finding our way to Langer's the very next time went headed down to SoCal.

And we did!
We sat at table #2....

And I ordered THE sandwich.

Oh Yum!!

But my guy....he wasn't eatin' no rye bread. Or coleslaw.
So he ordered a plain pastrami on a roll with mustard and pickles.

And a side of chili cheese fries...
Which I helped him eat.

Did I mention....Oh yum!

You can check out them out here.

And if you are on the east coast and you are looking for an amazing pastrami
sandwich, Katz Delicatessen in New York City will make you little heart sing!
You can check them out here.

Happy Dining.

SoCal

This past weekend me and my guy went down to Biola. We had been very much looking forward to attending a conference there, and we were NOT disappointed. It was amazing.

But, we were not looking forward to Los Angeles! We are not city people. And Los Angeles is all city. (And just so you know, saying "Los Angeles" is so out of fashion. It is Southern California, and more specifically it is SoCal. We know these things, me and my guy, because we are totally hip. Or "hipster" as my daughter's guy likes to say. Ok, not really.)

Anyway.... SoCal has its good and its bad.

Good would be the weather and the gardens. BEAUTIFUL year around. These Azaleas were blooming on the Biola campus.




Bad would be the smog. We really hate that smog.
But seriously, it seems like the smog is gone. We forget about this because we go down there so seldom. But it is true. The SoCal-ers are doing something differently than they were in the 80's because the air is decent. Nice actually.
So, smog is off the list.

Another good would be.... the weather and the gardens.
Like this fabulous old tree, also on the Biola campus.
So much character in the trunk of that tree.


And these pretty Poppies with bumble bees wiggling around in them.


Bad would be the traffic.
But seriously, it seems like the traffic is lots better. We forget about this because we go down there so seldom. But it is true. The SoCal-ers are doing something differently than they were in the 80's... NOT!!!

That traffic is brutal. B-R-U-T-A-L. It took a full hour to drive 6 miles on Friday! And, I don't believe I have ever heard my guy use the word "ridiculous" so many times in one weekend. Ever.

But, there is that weather thing....

Travel Mugs and Tales of Woe

I have this one travel mug that I just love. I've had it forever. My friend Margie gave it to me. This morning I filled it up with coffee. It leaked. And then I had a large coffee stain on my boob.

This afternoon, I put orange juice in it. I put the lid on nice a tight to make sure it wouldn't leak again. But it did. Then I had a oj stain on my OTHER boob.

I don't have a travel mug anymore. And I may need a new shirt, too.

Then this evening we went to dinner. And after we ate, I realized that I had lost my credit card.

Then, on the way home from the restaurant, I got confused about which freeway to take to get to the hotel. So, we made a 10 mile detour. In the dark. In the rain. In heavy traffic.

Oh the joys of traveling without my handler, I mean my guy!!

Ps: I found my credit card in the pocket of the pants I wore yesterday.

The Breakfast Fairy

The absolute best thing about coming home from a long trip is sleeping in your own bed!

My guy drove long into the night last night to make that happen. We were both so happy to drop into our bed and kiss the world good-bye for a few hours. No weird night noises, no "de-odorizing" smells, no questionable mattresses, no store-bought blankets. Just our soft and comfy, quilt covered bed in a dark and quiet room. Heavenly.

The absolute worst thing about coming home from a long trip is the lack of breakfast!

Never mind the fact that you have to make it yourself (which is a bummer), but because you were so careful to eat all of the fresh food before you left, there isn't anything to work with. But, this time was different.

A beautiful little breakfast fairy had recently flitted through our home, and left us this!!

What a nice surprise. I love you Breakfast Fairy!!

All About Pink

Would this car get your attention?
Would it entice you to visit its store?

I said "yes" to both questions.

So in we went. Me and my guy.

This is Pinkitzel.
"Kitzel" is a Yiddish word that means tickle.

So the shop's name is a play on words.
Tickled Pink.

Cute, isn't it?!
The shop and the name.

This is one of their party rooms. Rented by the hour.
Super cute!

And don't these look FABULOUS!

I had strawberry and my guy had chocolate salted caramel.
YUM YUM YUM!

So, if you ever find yourself down in Bricktown, in OKC, stop by and have a little something sweet. You'll be glad you did.

All About Worms

No road trip would be complete without a stop at you-know-where...

That's right, the Bass Pro Shop. And my guy wasted no time in getting us there.

He found this great hat, with built in lighting, about 3 minutes after we walked into the store. Sold!


Then we came across these socks. The sign says "with scent control". Gross.
We did not buy these.

Then we were off to worm-ville. Now, if you have never been to the Bass Pro, you may not realize how many fake worms are available for purchase. So, let me show you just a few...

These are called "Yum".

Then there is the old stand-by, PowerBait.

Iguana worms.

The Bass Pro Tournament Series.

These worms, which have been "impregnated with salt and coffee". Nice.

And my favorite, these ones that look, feel and taste ALIVE.

And that, my friends, is just the tip of the iceberg!!

I bet right about now you are just wishing you were at the Bass Pro Shop too!
I know, I am a lucky lucky girl.

COLD!

It has been cold lately. Even on the central coast of California.
41.5 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. That was several days ago.

Now, we are on a road trip, and it is even colder!
13 degrees in Amarillo tonight. And it is only 10pm!!

And, here is an interesting phenomenon.
Everywhere we go, everybody is watching the weather channel.
Truck stop for gas and a potty break: the weather channel.
Carl's Jr for some iced tea: the weather channel.
Target because I forgot my hairspray: the weather channel.
The hotel lobby: the weather channel.

Thanks to all this weather channel-ing, I can tell you that it is supposed to get down to 3 degrees tonight, with a strong wind advisory. Not good news for this California girl who does not even own a jacket!

And, one more thing. Our windshield is in need of washing. But......

...too bad! (that was at 5 in the afternoon.)