Flying To the West Coast

August 2, 2011
Well here we are traveling again....on our way to the West Coast....starting in California or rather San Francisco.  Mike and I are going to meet up with my brother Steve and his wife Cathy.  They are flying in from Baltimore and we are flying in from Detroit.

We met up at the airport and went to get our luggage.  Steve and Cathy had their luggage....beat up broken new suitcases. 

Steve wasn't at all happy and the airlines wasn't at all willing to help repair or replace the damaged luggage...."just natural wear and tear for luggage" the manager said.

Things didn't go much better with the rental car.  We had reserved ahead and paid in full and fully expected to just walk in and pick up our premium car and start our wonderful trip.  But no, that's not what happened...first we were in a long line with everyone ahead and behind us unhappy....
.there seemed to be no cars waiting for anyone.  The agents seem to not know where the cars were and wanted us to take either smaller cars or larger cars for more money.  Of course that wasn't acceptable!

 So it took about one hour plus a few minutes for them to find a car for us.  It was a Town Car and they finally let us have it without having to pay more money for it.  Then we all got in the car and started our trip to Pebble Beach to visit a girl Cathy went to school with back in West Virginia.  Trish and her husband Bear, had invited us all to stay at their vacation home in Pacific Grove......this town is known for the Monarch Butterflies that come there each year.
The majestic views of the Pacific Ocean along the way was wondrous....we had to stop and take pictures every few miles.  Here are some.

New Trip In The Works

We just got airplane tickets to San Francisco for August 2nd. to August 11th.  Steve and Cathy, my brother and his wife,  are going with us.  We will fly into San Francisco and out of Seattle back to Michigan.  Sounds like fun doesn't it?

We Are Home Safe And Sound

Wheeeee, we pulled in to Blissfield at about 5:30pm.  Boy is it good to be home! 
We got up this morning about 22 miles below Covenington, KY and left the motel at 11:00am....actually 10:59am.  The roads weren't so crowded as yesterday and not near as many trucks.  But there still was lots and lots of construction.  Next thing I knew we were 45 miles from Toledo, OH.  I might have dozed off a little.  While we were driving we were talking about my sewing machine...just before we left my Viking Sewing Machine quit working.  I was googleing Viking Dealers in Toledo and found one in Holland, OH which is very close to Toledo.  They also sell Baby Locks Machine which is the new embroidery machine my sister got.  Mike said, "Do you want to stop and look at them?"  Of course I did so we put the address on the GPS and headed to the Sew A Stitch Shop. We got lots of information and of course now I really want a new machine...A Baby Locks Embroidery one.  They said I could come and try them out one morning...just bring material and make an appointment.  I am going to talk to my sister again and check the brand out on line. 
We were in Toledo so late that the Oriental Place we like was open, I think it is called Jasmine Japanese Steak House.....so we decided to go there for dinner.  Hibachi Steak and Chicken and Shrimp.  Yum...it was ....very good. 

This is Chef Steve...he cooked our meal.

We brought half home so we can have that for lunch tomorrow.
When we got to Blissfield guess what?  There is construction there on the main street of town...it looks like it could be quite a mess and it will last until October....you just can't get away from it.
We called Tiffany to come help us unload the car and Kelly and Ben were at the house, so they helped us too.  We all visited for a while and Kelly talked me into going to Lansing tomorrow to protest against all the new laws they are trying to pass that are not fair to teachers.  Then Mike and I went to Jewel's house so Tiffany could show us the puppies.  They are so sweet....4 boys and 1 girl.  I'll add pictures later.
We got an ice cream at MacDonald's and went back to the house.  Bethany didn't get home until about 10:30pm...we hugs and talked a very little.  We were all tired and went to bed.  Home Sweet Home.

We are on our way home to Michigan. Boy was traveling was hard on this trip.....lots of construction,

 more trucks traveling than cars,


and the most unusual thing was all the tire rubber on the roads....guess from all the retreads...I have never seen so much tire debris on the roads. 



We got on the road this morning at about 12:45pm and drove until almost 3:00pm in the afternoon. I wanted to stop sooner but couldn't talk Mike into it. He wanted to be less than 5 hours home before we stopped and got a motel.

It was a Comfort Inn Motel and we usually stay in Comfort Inns when we travel. This one is an older one but it was really clean. It did spook us out that no one else was staying here. Mike said it sounds like the Bate's Motel...and we are in room 113.

 The desk girl says people usually don't check in until 6:00pm or later. It doesn't have a pool or hot tub, but she gave us a Hot Tub room for the same price as the regular room with a King size bed. ($79.00...senior rate) It has a fridge, a microwave, and a brand new giant TV.
It is now 7:30pm and we heard someone go into the room next door...sooooo we aren't the only ones here now.

Last Day At The Beach And In Pensacola

Our first stop was the Boardwalk.....we made it quick.

Then on to Pensacola Beach.

Today was our last day at the Beach.  It was a perfect day....green flag....smooth water...not too hot...just perfect. 

We stayed for two and one half hours.  I waded and looked for shells and sun tanned. I was looking for teeny tiny shells today...I am going to start a collection of them.
We went to Joe Paddy's for lunch

and then to Walmart to get gas and goodies for the trip home.
JM came over and visited for a while and then we went to the bedroom.....Mike wanted to sleep and I wanted to work on my computer, read my e-mail and Face book.  I'm still trying to find and replace all the information I had in my lost blog in the Forgotten Coast Line.
We plan to leave for Michigan sometime between 11:00 pm and 1:00 pm tonight.  We will spend the night one time on the road and get home sometime in the late afternoon or evening.

How Did We Do At The Casino?

We went to Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, Alabama....me, Mike, Paul, Jackie, and Carolyn.  JM decided not to go.

Some information about Wind Creek

Opened in December 2009 with 1,600 slot machines in a 57,000 square foot oval shaped, casino floor wrapped around a central bar and entertainment stage. The high ceilings and spacious aisles ensure maximum comfort. The 236 room hotel and spa are first class and the four restaurants offer a dining experience for every taste. Join the players club and receive 1 point for every $5 gambled. You must be 21 to gamble or watch.

Some famous residents of Atmore, Alabama
Evander Holyfield, four-time World Heavyweight boxing champion, was born in Atmore.
Paul Birch, American actor and the original "Marlboro Man"[1], was born in Atmore.
Don McNeal, star defensive back for Alabama and the Miami Dolphins, was born and raised in Atmore.
William C. Maxwell, namesake of Maxwell Air Force Base.

None of us were big winners...Carolyn (Paul's neighbor)  did more than pay for her meal, and still have winnings left over...so I guess she was the big winner.  We drove so she didn't have to pay gas either.  I didn't like the buffet as well this time...maybe I wasn't hungry enough.


Before we left for the Casino, I used the free coupon from Dillards for a shampoo and style.  I can't decided if it looks good or not.  Mike sort of said he thinks it makes me look older.  Just what I want to hear.  He said he likes my short style better.  But I am going to keep on growing it out until it gets to the length I have been wanting and see if I like it then....chin length on the sides and short and layered in the back.  It is not near there yet.  Here is a picture of it with my new outfit.

What do you think?

Sunday Lunch At The Bowens...Jack's Birthday

Sunday, May 15,2011
We went to Sunday Lunch at the Bowens and they were celebrating Jackie's 55th Birthday.  It is actually Tuesday but we were celebrating with the family today.

Debby made pot roast with carrots, potatoes and hot rolls.  She also had veggies, dip, and the sweetest cantaloupe.  I brought a coconut cream pie and Debby made a coconut cake.  I didn't even know that Jackie loves coconut.  So it was a very good choice.  Everything was very good.  Kathy, Cortney, and the neighbor Carolyn were there too.  Al and Judy couldn't make it.  JM was there but we didn't see very much of him.
Afterwards we stopped at Dillard's and Mike picked up another Polo plaid shirt.  He says they are more comfortable than the cotton tee shirts.
When we got to RB's house we had to take another nap...these naps are getting pretty regular for us down here.
For dinner we went to the Village Inn....no one really loved their meal but they were OK.  I think Mike and I are just getting sick of buying meals out...we are missing home cooked meals.
Bethany texted me and told me that it was 41* and rainy in Blissfield....yuk!  Boy we haven't watched TV down here much...RB has a rotten little old TV hardly worth watching.

When we were here last summer his big TV picture made every show look pink and he waited until it died and complained to one of his friends at the Waffle House.  They said they had an 18" portable that they would give him.  And instead of buying a new one that is what he uses in his living room...can you believe it.  His main entertainment is everyday is his computer, that is not even on line, and this old tiny TV.