If You're Going to San-fran-cisco....

....wear a sweater (even in late June)!

On Wednesday, at approximately 3:30, Judy, Mary, Ilana and I left Kingman for Vegas. Judy and Mary were a smash, of course. Ilana and I kept busy during the day by going to Kingman's one movie theater. Stadium seating has not yet come to Kingman. As Ilana and I waited for the movie to start, I was reminded of the cold sweat fear I used to endure as a kid. Would someone really tall sit in the seat in front of me just seconds before the movie starts? Would I spend the entire movie craning my neck from side to side, trying to get a obstacle-free view of the screen?

No worries. Ilana and I were the only ones in the theater to enjoy "Evan Almighty" on Tuesday, and "Live Free or Die Hard" on Wednesday. We enjoyed both movies, especially (I am surprised to say) "Die Hard". It was two hours of pure fun. Or maybe, we were just happy to be looking at something besides sand.

Once in Vegas, we enjoyed the buffet at Mandalay Bay (truly the best hotel/casino in Vegas), and then checked into Treasure Island. Judy and Ilana conked out pretty quickly, so Mary and I walked the strip. It was fun experiencing Bellagio's dancing fountain, the Mirage's volcano, and all the bling of Las Vegas Blvd. with someone who was seeing it for the first time.

On Thursday, we flew to Oakland. We had a wonderful day walking around Berkeley with Uncle Barry and his partner, Bruce. We caught up on the family, and shared a delicious lunch. They are living in a beautiful house with great views of Alcatraz and S.F.



Later, we saw Debi (Judy's friend since kindergarten) and her precious daughter Heather. We'll all take on the giant redwood trees of Muir Woods on Saturday.

At Home in Kingman

We haven't written too much about Kingman because, honestly, there wasn't much to write. It was wonderful to have Mary in our midst. A loyal reader of this blog (one of thousands) it feels good to include her here. Not only did we create some top-notch teacher training, we had a few yuks. Just let me say, "Shoes. OMG."

Truly, being able to present with Mary and MJ means that I get to learn while I teach. I'm honored to work with amazing professionals, and I am so very proud of the work we do.

While we were casting our spell over Kingman's educators, there was painfully little for my remaining family members to do. Twice they visited Kingman's "Multi" plex. I believe that WalMart was actually a special outing, but I'll allow one of them to elaborate about that.

What was wonderful was that after I worked my day, they were waiting for me at 3 P.M. to take me home. And even though it was Kingman, Arizona, wherever they are is home to me. I guess I'm lucky all around!

While the Cat's Away....

...The mice do play! Ilana and I got our kicks on Rt. 66 while Judy and Mary gave day one of their writing workshop. The museum was interesting; lot's of memorabilia from the Mother Road's more glamorous days. Tomorrow, we'll go swim in Lake Mohave (just a stone's throw from Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam).

Also, Ilana and I just finished reading Carl Hiaasen's "HOOT". Besides the books we read on our own (I'm reading "Black Order" by James Rollins, Ilana's reading Andrew Clements' "Things Not Seen"), Ilana and I always read a book together. We were a little sad to end HOOT. We've been reading it throughout the entire vacation, alternating who reads aloud. The familiar characters were welcomed companions as we checked in to unfamiliar hotel after unfamiliar hotel. Now we want to see the DVD. Has anyone seen it? Is it any good? Next, we start Hiaasen's "Flushed".

The Big Hole

One of Ilana's friends, Kayla, met us for a day at the pool. Her family was in Vegas for a reunion. Ilana enjoyed seeing a familiar face (especially one her own age). During our last night in Vegas we watched a very funny "Spamalot". It was one part Monthy Python's "Holy Grail" and one part "Forbidden Broadway". However, Judy would have preferred to see "Love" again. Actually.... guess who's turned out to be a big Beatles fan? Dramaqueen. As a matter of fact, she wanted to hear the CD we bought from the show the entire way to the Canyon.

Canyon pictures are attached. We enjoyed the view by walking a large portion of the Rim Trail. Our favorite part was watching the sun set over the canyon. The urban playground that is NY, the rain forests of the Northwest, and now the painted desert. What a country.

Today, we arrived in the Rt. 66 town of Kingman, Arizona. Mary (whose been a loyal reader of this blog) will join Judy for three days of workshops. Welcome to the blog, Mary!

Viva, Las Vegas!

What can I say about Vegas? We've been here several times, but the place still blows us away. We're staying at the Monte Carlo for the first time. Not as nice as Mandalay Bay, but pretty close. The pool area has a wave pool, lazy river, spa, etc... We have our own cabana, which allows us to enjoy the pool to the max. Otherwise, we would have to chase the shade all day. Being from Florida, we know "The sun is NOT your friend".

Last night we saw "Love" by Cirque du Soleil. OMG (as my daughter just told me to write). For those less literate in "My Space-ese", that's Oh My G-d. It was fantastic. Each of the Beatles' songs were interpreted by this group of dancers, gymnasts, acrobats, etc... We have never been disappointed at a Cirque show. We read that Sir Paul, Ringo, Yoko, and George's widow will be here next week to celebrate the year anniversary of the show.

And now for something completely different; Tonight we will see "Spamalot". Judy and I love Monty Python. Ilana will love the fact that it's a musical. Hopefully, she'll get some of the jokes.

Leg 5 of the trip is going well. Three more to go. We miss our cats!

The Rose City

I worked today. EJG and Dramaqueen took in some of Portland's beauty.




Of course, it doesn't compare to Dramaqueen's beauty.

DramaQueen :]

Hay guys i haven't gotten a chance to write a blog post i a while. i am having the time of my life. But i miss friends and family. I can't wait to go to Las Vegas to see alot of Broadway musicals. Today we went to a body museum. It was very interesting to me that in the glass protection boxes there were REAL dead body parts. It was really fascinating!!!!! i can't wait to see more adventures!!!


love dramqueen :]

Bodies, Bodies, Everywhere!

Today we went to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. It's a very nice museum in it's own right, but this month they are hosting "Body World III". We experienced two floors filled with real human cadavers preserved using a new technique called plastination. What a way to learn about human anatomy. I mean... BAM! There's the whole digestive system, just hanging there for all to see. In addition to showing all manner of body systems and organs, there were bodies posed in "artistic" stances; skateboarding, doing gymnastics, dancing ballet. This exhibit left NOTHING to the imagination.

The only disturbing part was that the person who created the preservation technique is a German named Gunther von Hagen. Perhaps someone should have told him that being German, maybe it wasn't such a good idea going into the business of cutting up people. I don't think this exhibit would play well in Miami Beach.

Scenic Highways

After watching Judy's movie of the pictures we took today, I need to comment further on the Scenic Highway.

1. There are over 10 different waterfalls to view. The Bridal Veil Falls is the second largest in the U.S. It rivals Niagara in it's beauty.

2. The road winds along the Columbia River in the cliffs high above I 84. It was built at the dawn of the automobile age in the early 1900's. Almost immediately, it was prized as being the most beautiful of all scenic American roads. At the turn of the century the automobile was used as much for entertainment as for transportation. These first roads were created to bring Americans from the cities to the outdoors to enjoy all the things that make "America, the Beautiful". Whether it's the Pacific Highway, A1A Highway, Blue Ridge Parkway, or Rt. 66, these roads make help visitors connect with our past.

3. FROM A WEB SITE ON SCENIC HIGHWAYS: "Words fail many travelers who drive the exquisite Historic Columbia River Highway. Every twist and turn brings a new treasure, from majestic waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, the most visited natural site in Oregon, to astounding views from the tops of cliffs over 900 feet above the river. During the spring, the Gorge area erupts into magnificent wildflower displays, including many plants that only exist in this area.This is the first scenic highway in the US to gain the distinction of National Historic Landmark. Just to give you an idea of what this means, less than 3 percent of the sites on the National Register of Historic Places become Landmarks. The construction of this Highway was considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the modern age. Its engineer, Samuel C. Lancaster, did not [want] to mar what God had put there. It was designed in 1913 to take advantage of the many waterfalls and other "beauty spots."

4. The Columbia River Sceneic Highway's points of interest are well marked and right there! You park the car, and in seconds you are standing infront of the most amazing waterfall you have ever seen. Or, you park the car and walk a few feet to meadow trails bursting with color. Each stopping point has interpretive signs to guide you along, or buildings with exhibits.

5. Everything is absolutely FREE!!!

What a Place

Voluptuous. Ostentatious. Verdant valleys and fertile hillsides. Curvaceous mountains rising on every horizon. Frenzied wildflowers skip across every grassy meadow. And all this is dominated by silvery-glaciered volcanoes. Power and fire on ice. This is the Pacific Northwest.

Paradise on the Oregon Trail

When Portland has a sunny day, which it did today, it is hard to think of a prettier place in these United States. Roses line the streets and highways like it's no big deal. The Columbia River Gorge and Scenic Highway are so beautiful, even Walt Disney could not have imagined it. The tree lined road wanders along the river with constant breathtaking views. There are waterfalls and nature trails to stop and enjoy every couple of miles. The trails meander through wildflower meadows as they lead to waterfalls, each one more spectacular than the next. Beautifully maintained historic buildings hold exhibits to educate and fascinate. The area is so impossibly pretty, yet very different from the pine forests of Vancouver and the Cascade volcanoes. The Pacific Northwest is stunning... and Portland is a must-visit city!

Mt. St. Elsewhere

I'm going to look on the bright side, see the glass as half full, put on a happy face, and find the silver lining. On Sunday, we got to witness Mother Nature's awesome powers. Standing just 6 miles from a 8,365 ft. volcano, Ma Nature found a way to make it completely disappear. I dare David Copperfield to try that bit of magic.

Thankfully, we did get to see glimpses of the destruction from the 1980 eruption. The visitor's center (standing in a spot that was blown off the map 27 years ago) had great exhibits and films showing how the volcano blew it's top.

Drip Mount Drop Saint Drip Helens Drop

What volcano?

Mount Rainier - June 16

To those whose feet have walked these woods,
I thank you for leaving no trace.
You came and looked, but left nothing behind
So that I may visit this pristine place.

Off to the Volcanoes!

We're leaving Seattle in just a few minutes. I'm a little sad. But, we're not going far. Today we will explore the awe-inspiring beauty that is Mt. Ranier. I just hope she doesn't blow her top!

Boeing Tour and the Future of Flight

Today’s main event was the tour we took at Boeing, about 30 miles north of Seattle. We took a tour of the factory where they assemble the 747,767, 777 and the new 787 “Dreamliner.” This plane will debut on July 8, 2007.
While the planes are assembled there in the plant, almost none of the parts are actually MADE there. More than 40 different countries contribute parts to the planes. They just do a big LEGO thing there and piece it together.
Before the tour they triple warn everyone that they’re not allowed to bring cameras, purses, cell phones, ipods, palm pilots, blackberries or BABIES! Supposedly, someone dropped a camera from the raised observation platform onto the wing of a plane under assembly and caused some $250K of damage to the plane!
Needless to say, there are no pics of the tour, only the exhibit afterwards.

Seattle; It's NY... only prettier, friendlier, and cleaner!

Seattle is a great city. It has all the hustle and bustle of New York; museums, restaurants, shopping galore! But that's where the similarities end. Seattle reminds me of Disney World. The place is so clean, I think a crew of "cast members" comes out at night to vacuum away any trash. The people act like Disney employees, as well. Everyone is polite and helpful.

I think Seattle knew that some Floridians were here. The sun was shining bright. The view from the top of the Space Needle was breathtaking. Mt. Ranier could be seen in the distance, with its snow-capped cone. Fresh water lakes surround the city on the east, with the inlets of the Puget sound on the west. But as high up as we were, you still couldn't see the Pacific.

The Experience Music Project was amazing. It's a hands-on museum that explores how popular music is created and the role it plays in our culture. In the Oral History room, I listened to dozens of accounts of what it was like to be involved in the world of Rock and Roll. Like Stephen Spielberg's WWII veterans project, this will give future generations a chance to hear first hand what life was like in the late twentieth century. In trying to explain how valuable oral history, I asked her to imagine how awesome it would be if we had video of Jefferson telling us what he was thinking when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

The special Disney exhibit was fantastic. After spending time learning about the way Walt and company used music to help tell their stories, I will never again watch a Disney movie the same way. Did you know that "Bambi" has only 850 words of dialogue? The rest is music. Disney was acutely aware of the effects of music on his audience. Themes and songs were carefully placed to invoke to proper emotion. The sections on Ashman and Menken and the Sherman brothers were enlightening. As a music teacher, I think a whole course could be taught on the music of Disney.

June 14 Pictures

June 14

hi everyone i am at breakfast right now.i am having a blast. today we are going to a rock and roll museumit will be amazing.

Big Day Ahead

Little to post from yesterday. We traveled from Vancouver to Seattle, experiencing the almost hour wait at border patrol. Our hotel in Seattle is right in the heart of downtown - walkable to everything. We did hoof it about and checked out the area a bit. EJG was excited to find a Macy's! We puttered about awhile, and then skipped across Lake Washington into Bellevue for dinner. Thai food is great out here!

Big day planned today. We're taking in the Elliot Bay and Waterfront, the Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, The Experience Music Project and the Spaceneedle. Oy. My feet hurt just thinking about it! We'll post pictures so that our throngs of readers can stay informed!

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Good day! Woke early. Treadmill run at the rooftop fitness center. Hotel continental breakfast. Then we took mass transit to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (Skyway, Seabus and Autobus). The pictures can't do it justice.


We lunched at a marketplace near the waterfront. Fresh seafood for Judabear, meat pie for EJG and healthy, fresh salad for Dramaqueen. The final shots in the video are downtown Vancouver as we approached by Seabus (you can see the Cruise Ship terminal there too)



After this adventure we returned to our hotel (anybody who comes here must try the Hampton Inn Downtown) for a bit of R&R and a coupla' games of Rummikub.

Our afternoon/evening adventure was a walking tour of lovely Stanley Park, a huge urban park in downtown Vancouver. Dinner at an Italian Restaurant (hooray for 1/2 price pasta Tuesday) and then a slip into the hot tub while the laundry churned.

Walking for the day must have been more than 10 miles! With aching feet and heads swirling, plop! Three tired travelers slept very well!

vacation

We just got back from working out. I am having so much fun. Although there is still "No Place like HOME"!!!!!!Today we are going on a bridge that is over a beautiful river. We are taking a sea bus and a skyway around the city to go shopping. I can't wait to explore this beautiful country.

love,
DRAMA QUEEN otherwise known as (Ilana)

Way Out West

We've been awake for 20 hours now.

Waking up in N/M & R's house on LI before 5 AM to shower, dress and refuel the rental. Slugging through the Southern State Parkway and the dreaded Belt to JFK. The train to the plane. The plane to the west. The van to the car. The car to the border. The border to the hotel. Finally, we arrive at destination #2: Vancouver.

This city combines the landscape of the mountains and sound with the modern architecture of the Far East. Snow-capped mountains reflect off curved glass towers, and a walk down any street ends at a breathtaking view of the water. We walked Robson Street, the "Fifth Avenue." End to end, it's only a mile and a half. Or three Kilometers or whatever that amounts to... Happy to say, there's at least a Starbucks for each block!!! Plenty of shopping, and some of the yummiest Thai food ever. We dined outside the restaurant, taking in the sights of the Yaletown neighborhood, basking in the warmth of a propane outdoor heater (yes, it's about 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Tummy full, at our destination (with our luggage) and planning for some big adventures tomorrow, we're pooped!

Simply Thai, simply yum!




A city with a view




And the city is pretty too!

Bye Bye, Mombai

Ilana's luggage finally checked into Kennedy Airport at 6:30 this morning. I hope it spent the last three days in some exotic locale like the luggage storage facility in the Bahamas. More likely, it's been sitting in Atlanta.

I know it sounds a little strange, but I will miss talking with my new friends in India. I know them only by their manufractured, American-friendly names; Fred, Charity, and Lakisha. I wonder how many Lakishas there are roaming around the streets of Mombai?

All kidding aside, I will miss their quarky politness. Their infectious manners made it impossible for me to lose my temper. We Americans can learn a lot from these hard working, minimum wage-earning foreigners.

How Are You In New York, Please?

"How are you in New York, Please?"my Indian friend asks me everytime I call over to Mombai.
"Not so good, " I reply, "Where's my luggage?!"

It's an outsourced world, folks. Get used to it. But I don't mind. I don't even mind that our luggage was lost. I'm one of those people who still can't believe I made it to my destination without falling out of the sky. I'm thankful for making it alive. What I don't understand, though, is how they can say they don't know where my luggage is. It's either in Jacksonville, Atlanta, or New York. Get up and look for it!

Accountability! I'm not asking for much... only that No Bag is Left Behind.

Upgrades and Underwear

So EJG got a taste of first class on our trip to NY on Wednesday, while I slummed it with Dramaqueen in coach. The company always beats the upgrades. EJG flew higher than the 30,000 feet at cruising altitude, taking full advantage of the adult beverage cart. The important people up front even received a meal on the ATL-JFK leg, while we shared a sad solo Sun Chip in the rear.

Flying is only a way of getting there, and we did, on time. We arrived and went to claim the luggage. Four pieces checked in JAX. One piece arrived in JFK. The one that came? Books, games, and the hairdryer. No clean panties for anyone.

On Thursday I presented for a lovely group of middle school teachers from Bed-Sty wearing the Jeans and T-Shirt that had served so valliantly as both travel gear and pajamas. EJG freshened his man-panties by waving them in front of the a/c unit while wearing the bedsheet. Troubling, but short-lived, as our things arrived the following morning. Not as troubling as the situation with Dramaqueen.

Today is Friday, and she remains without her bag. Hers, the one that doesn't look like every other piece of luggage. Mine and EJG's are the ordinary black rolling luggage pieces ubiquitous on baggage belts nationwide. Dramaqueen's bag has the look and feel of bubblegum, but somehow it went missing.

Furthering the frustration in our attempts to retrieve the bag is the fact that the "Luggage Customer Care Center" has been outsourced to Mumbai, India. Calling the LCCC means a 25 minute hold and then having an agent read my address and lost baggage file number over and over again. Yes, it is still pink. Yes, it is still missing. Yes, I still live in Florida. Yes, we still want it delivered to NY.

Losing hope that it will ever arrive, we visited the local Kohl's and did our best to replicate the contents of a 'tween's wardrobe packed for a month-long excursion. After $700 in purchases, we haven't replaced half of what was in there, but she has enough for our gallavanting.

Off to an auspicious start....

the journey around the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hHy you guys. I am about to leave home for the journey of the WORLD. Have a great sumer. so How r u? I am goi9ng to the air port in about 2 hours. I am excited that i will be able to spend time with my mom. I love her soooo much. She is the best. i guess spensing time with my dad is okay too. just kidding. I love my dad.



i♥u
♥ilana

It's Coming Soon

Here I sit in Newark Liberty airport, waiting for my flight back to Jacksonville. Today I travel alone, an anonymous face in a sea of anonymous faces. Just another business traveler, trying her best to get home on a Friday night. Nose in the laptop, expense sheet spread before me, I will the time to pass faster so that I can get home sooner.

Flash to next week. Husband and daughter in tow. Airport club room. Chatting excitedly about sightseeing plans or playing a heated game of travel Yahtzee. Far from anonymous, I'll be called by my favorite name, "Momma."

Let our trip begin.