Oof!! Today was a long day and the last hour and a half or so were difficult. My third day of travel is when the trip starts to wear on me a little bit. Everything went smoothly with the drive today though.
The landscape across Texas was much like that in Wyoming and Nevada. There are hilly mountains and desert grasses. I marvel at how the mountains are formed and wonder how in the world they built a road through there! There was a pass that I ventured through today where the road separated the mountain in such a way that the mountain looked like a loaf of bread sliced in half. It really was quite something. I saw signs for the International Border and Juarez and wanted so bad to cross the border and come right back just to say that I set foot in Mexico as I haven't been there before. I didn't have my passport with me though and somehow I think the pets might have created a problem with that. It was a fun idea though.
A few other tips for people traveling with pets....almost every one of the La Quinta hotels allow pets with no additional charge!! Not only that, many of their hotels are pretty new as the chain has been rapidly expanding.
Second, if you travel regularly and are a member of one of the airlines' frequent flyer programs, La Quinta and lots of other hotels allow you to earn frequent flyer miles for your stay. Check on the website of your airline under the "Partners" section and there's usually a list of hotels and car rental companies that offer miles. Some hotels offer 1 mile per dollar on the room rate only (before hotel taxes and fees) while others offer a blanket flat amount of miles per stay. The ones offering a flat amount are great because that amount is usually equal to more than the number of miles you would get on a mile per dollar program. Wow, should I start my own travel agency or what? ha ha
Well, my "kidz" and I are snuggled into our hotel for the night, and the bed is calling my name. Believe me when I say that I'm calling for the bed myself. Check in with me tomorrow for a look at where we've been and a recap of tomorrow's drive. Nite nite!
Where In The World Are You??
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Oh The Places We'll Go: Day 2 Of My Fantastic Voyage
Day 2 of my voyage went as smooth as silk. I've gotten many comments from people thinking I'm really brave for undertaking drives such as this one, and wonder how do I do it? For me traveling as much as I do, I have it pretty much down to a science now.
Here are my 5 basic rules that I go by when I'm on the road that help me get through each day safely and stress free:
Rule #1: Don't drive any more than about 8 hours in one day. Too many hours and you're bound to get sleepy on the road.
Rule #2: Make hotel reservations ahead of time for each of your stops so you have a destination in mind and aren't stuck in the middle of the desert at night sleepy and not knowing where the next hotel/motel is. Because I have pets, I always have to plan my lodging ahead of time too because while the number of hotels that allow pets is growing, they're still not allowed everywhere.
Rule #3: Don't eat much on the road. An energy bar high in protein or a similar snack helps to keep your stomach satisfied but not so full that you get sleepy. Also, even though you don't want to have to run to the bathroom too often, drink lots of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
Rule #4: Make your rest stops few and fast. You're on a mission and you don't want to lose your momentum! My car gives me just over 330 miles on a full tank which usually equals out to about 4 hours of driving or about half the trip for that day.
Rule #5: Enjoy the view! This is a magnificently beautiful country that we live in with every type of climate and natural landmark that we need to enjoy a nice ride. A GPS is also a great resource to have for navigation.
I'm not a morning person so I usually allow myself to sleep until I wake up on my own so that I know that my body has gotten the rest that it needs. With driving 8 hours, I also get to my daily destination at a reasonable time in the evening so that I can relax, have a nice dinner, and get to bed at a reasonable hour. Now that makes things sound much easier right?
Here's a look at the ground that Sammy, Sydney, and I covered for today. We started in Blythe, CA and traveled through Arizona and New Mexico and are now in El Paso, TX. A quick shout out to all my Texan Sisterlockers out there!!
Here are my 5 basic rules that I go by when I'm on the road that help me get through each day safely and stress free:
Rule #1: Don't drive any more than about 8 hours in one day. Too many hours and you're bound to get sleepy on the road.
Rule #2: Make hotel reservations ahead of time for each of your stops so you have a destination in mind and aren't stuck in the middle of the desert at night sleepy and not knowing where the next hotel/motel is. Because I have pets, I always have to plan my lodging ahead of time too because while the number of hotels that allow pets is growing, they're still not allowed everywhere.
Rule #3: Don't eat much on the road. An energy bar high in protein or a similar snack helps to keep your stomach satisfied but not so full that you get sleepy. Also, even though you don't want to have to run to the bathroom too often, drink lots of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
Rule #4: Make your rest stops few and fast. You're on a mission and you don't want to lose your momentum! My car gives me just over 330 miles on a full tank which usually equals out to about 4 hours of driving or about half the trip for that day.
Rule #5: Enjoy the view! This is a magnificently beautiful country that we live in with every type of climate and natural landmark that we need to enjoy a nice ride. A GPS is also a great resource to have for navigation.
I'm not a morning person so I usually allow myself to sleep until I wake up on my own so that I know that my body has gotten the rest that it needs. With driving 8 hours, I also get to my daily destination at a reasonable time in the evening so that I can relax, have a nice dinner, and get to bed at a reasonable hour. Now that makes things sound much easier right?
Here's a look at the ground that Sammy, Sydney, and I covered for today. We started in Blythe, CA and traveled through Arizona and New Mexico and are now in El Paso, TX. A quick shout out to all my Texan Sisterlockers out there!!
Here's a look at tomorrow's voyage. We will leave El Paso and cross through the Texas wilderness to stop in San Antonio tomorrow evening.
While refueling in Wilcocks, AZ this afternoon the wind was gusting and I loved the feeling of it blowing through my hair. I caught myself with a little bit of white girlatoma as I tossed my head back and felt my hair go from blowing onto my face to going backward. I looked at my reflection and laughed!
Being this close to the Mexican border and especially Ciudad Juarez. I'm reminded of one of the most poignant movies that I've ever seen. The movie is Bordertown starring Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, and Martin Sheen. The plot is that of an investigative reporter (Lopez) who works to uncover the scandal of the murders of over 400 women working at U.S. owned factories in the border towns of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. It exposes the roles of the U.S. and Mexican governments' roles in illegal immigration as well as how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) plays its part.
Of course the movie was never seen in U.S. theatres. It went straight to DVD but I HIGHLY recommend renting the DVD and be sure to watch all of the special features!! It blew my mind into a thousand pieces. Of course the movie itself is the "glamourized" version but it is based on a true story. The special features show the stories of other real people working in these factories. It's very thought provoking and definitely altered my views on illegal immigration. I also gained a better understanding of what NAFTA really does. I give the movie two thumbs up and 5 stars!!
Ok, my eyelids are starting to droop which means that it's time for me to say ta ta for now but I'll check in tomorrow night for a recap of my day wandering across Texas. Until tomorrow my friends....In the meantime I wish for 2 things...first that you'll think of what adventure you'd like to undertake and leave your comments to let me know...and second that you will rent and watch Bordertown. The link below will give you an excerpt from one of the special features.
Being this close to the Mexican border and especially Ciudad Juarez. I'm reminded of one of the most poignant movies that I've ever seen. The movie is Bordertown starring Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, and Martin Sheen. The plot is that of an investigative reporter (Lopez) who works to uncover the scandal of the murders of over 400 women working at U.S. owned factories in the border towns of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. It exposes the roles of the U.S. and Mexican governments' roles in illegal immigration as well as how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) plays its part.
Of course the movie was never seen in U.S. theatres. It went straight to DVD but I HIGHLY recommend renting the DVD and be sure to watch all of the special features!! It blew my mind into a thousand pieces. Of course the movie itself is the "glamourized" version but it is based on a true story. The special features show the stories of other real people working in these factories. It's very thought provoking and definitely altered my views on illegal immigration. I also gained a better understanding of what NAFTA really does. I give the movie two thumbs up and 5 stars!!
Ok, my eyelids are starting to droop which means that it's time for me to say ta ta for now but I'll check in tomorrow night for a recap of my day wandering across Texas. Until tomorrow my friends....In the meantime I wish for 2 things...first that you'll think of what adventure you'd like to undertake and leave your comments to let me know...and second that you will rent and watch Bordertown. The link below will give you an excerpt from one of the special features.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Oh The Places We'll Go: Day 1 Of My Fantastic Voyage
Today my voyage to Mississippi finally began. I've included a map below to show you my progress so you can come along with me. Today's drive took me from Walnut Creek, CA to the town of Blythe, CA. Blythe is somewhat of a border town between California and Arizona. The drive itself took about 8 hours although it took a little longer due to your typical stops to eat and refuel. Oh and there was the speeding ticket I got that kind of held up the process too. Doh!!!
Sydney and Sammy, my dog and cat made it though sleeping most of the way. Just outside of Los Angeles, Sydney couldn't resist the opportunity to open the window and let her ears blow in the wind. She looks like Underdog when she does it, a diva version that is.
Anywho, I'm pooped and it's time for a good night's rest! Please keep me in your prayers as I wander through these desert lands. While I made it through most of California's desert today, I still have much more ahead in Arizona and New Mexico tomorrow. The mountains that I've passed are beautiful and look exactly like they do on maps and from the view of an airplane, just up close and personal. If you ever get a chance to head this way, don't miss the view. It's absolutely breathtaking!
Sydney and Sammy, my dog and cat made it though sleeping most of the way. Just outside of Los Angeles, Sydney couldn't resist the opportunity to open the window and let her ears blow in the wind. She looks like Underdog when she does it, a diva version that is.
Anywho, I'm pooped and it's time for a good night's rest! Please keep me in your prayers as I wander through these desert lands. While I made it through most of California's desert today, I still have much more ahead in Arizona and New Mexico tomorrow. The mountains that I've passed are beautiful and look exactly like they do on maps and from the view of an airplane, just up close and personal. If you ever get a chance to head this way, don't miss the view. It's absolutely breathtaking!
Here's the route we covered today....
Here's Sydney, my litte underdog soaking up the rays.....
And, of course Sammy spent the drive seizing the opportunity to do what he does best.....
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Coming Up To A Fantastic Voyage...
Life has been busier than busy lately as I'm finishing up all of my work in California and trying to get packed up to head down to Mississippi. I'm driving down but luckily I'll be more comfortable and hopefully safer in my brand new 2008 Hyundai Tucson!! Yahoo!! I never realized how attached I was to my old car but when I traded it in I was enlightened to what the car represented for me.My old car, a 1998 Ford Escort was a car that I got in 2003 during a time when my life was in serious turmoil and I was just starting to claw my way out of a deep hole. That car has been with me as I've reestablished myself, but also has traveled thousands and thousands of miles across the United States. It was a special blessing...one that I'll never forget. Sounds silly but I actually cried when I gave it up.
I'm loving the new car though and planning to take off on my next fantastic voyage sometime this weekend. It will take a good 5 days of driving plus I might take a day of rest somewhere in the middle where I don't drive at all. Most people think that I'm nuts for driving cross country but I've actually gotten used to it now. It's an awesome time of peace and a great opportunity to spend real time with God. This country is absolutely beautiful and the cross country highways offer the best view of the amazing mountains. I could do without states like Nebraska where there's nothing but miles and miles of dead grass on the side of the road, but luckily I won't have to pass through there any time soon. My route will take me from California to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, then finally Mississippi.
I'm hoping to blog along the way from each of my stops....so get ready and we'll travel together!
Update: I had a scratch test done to try to figure out the source of my allergic reaction. The doc and I are suspecting the avocado in the guacamole but I had a negative result on both the scratch test and blood test. Tomorrow, I am scheduled for an oral challenge. Basically I go into the office with an empty stomach, stuff my face with pure avocado, then see if I turn into an itchy beast with hives again. Both my doctor and I are pretty frustrated that we can't seem to find the source of the reaction so far, and I have to admit that as much as I don't want to go through the itching again, I kind of hope that I get a reaction tomorrow just so that I know for sure what to avoid in the future.
And a bit of good news....I've already got a May retightening appointment with a Sisterlocks trainee in New Orleans. She sounds great over the phone but I have to admit that she has really big shoes to fill.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Being so close to San Francisco, I decided yesterday to try to catch a glimpse of the Olympic torch. I've never been much of a sports fan but yet I still love to watch the Summer Games.
I have to admit that I just HAD to see all of the protesters too. I always say that I was born in the wrong generation. I should have been born in the 50's so that I could have been a teenager in the 60's and early 70's. I would have been arrested so many times that my mother would have gotten tired of trying to bail me out.
I don't know much about the controversy over China with Tibet (pronounced TIE-bet I learned from one Chinese girl), but what I do know is that there are alot of people very passionate about the subject. At the same time, there were people there carrying signs and yelling with no clue as to what was really going on.
As everyone knows by now, the city of San Francisco made the "last minute" decision to take the torch carriers on an alternate route. The protesters claimed victory as they were able to make themselves known as well as their causes. The rest of us spectators claimed defeat as we learned that our opportunity faded away. There were no announcements. We only knew that our chance was lost when the police officers started removing the barricades opening the streets up to auto traffic.
While I didn't get to see the torch, I'm still glad for the experience of watching determined people speak out for the rights of others. There were signs and chants to "Free Tibet!", "Save Darfur!", and of course American flags and cries to bring the troops home. It was an exciting time.
The most amazing thing.....I ended up on the ABC Nightly News!!! You know, the national news that comes on after the 5:00 evening news?? Yeah, that one!! These two guys were arguing and I was standing behind one of them (filming with my own video camera), so I ended up seeing myself on the news over his shoulder for my 2-3 seconds of fame! Ha! I think that's so funny!!!
I have to admit that I just HAD to see all of the protesters too. I always say that I was born in the wrong generation. I should have been born in the 50's so that I could have been a teenager in the 60's and early 70's. I would have been arrested so many times that my mother would have gotten tired of trying to bail me out.
I don't know much about the controversy over China with Tibet (pronounced TIE-bet I learned from one Chinese girl), but what I do know is that there are alot of people very passionate about the subject. At the same time, there were people there carrying signs and yelling with no clue as to what was really going on.
As everyone knows by now, the city of San Francisco made the "last minute" decision to take the torch carriers on an alternate route. The protesters claimed victory as they were able to make themselves known as well as their causes. The rest of us spectators claimed defeat as we learned that our opportunity faded away. There were no announcements. We only knew that our chance was lost when the police officers started removing the barricades opening the streets up to auto traffic.
While I didn't get to see the torch, I'm still glad for the experience of watching determined people speak out for the rights of others. There were signs and chants to "Free Tibet!", "Save Darfur!", and of course American flags and cries to bring the troops home. It was an exciting time.
The most amazing thing.....I ended up on the ABC Nightly News!!! You know, the national news that comes on after the 5:00 evening news?? Yeah, that one!! These two guys were arguing and I was standing behind one of them (filming with my own video camera), so I ended up seeing myself on the news over his shoulder for my 2-3 seconds of fame! Ha! I think that's so funny!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Four Months Into My Sisterlocks Adventure....
April 1st and 2nd marks a full 4 months into my Sisterlocks adventure!! The time has gone by so quickly and so has the growth of my hair. I can see the difference in the areas that are settling well versus the areas of my hairline that just refuse to settle in and enjoy being in locks.
I received some news the other day that it's time to move from California to a new location in Mississippi. You see, I'm a corporate traveler with the company I work for so I move to a new location (a different state usually) every few months. I enjoy the change and getting used to a new area and there are definite benefits to both the company and me. The benefit to them is that they can call me at any time to move to another location with somewhat short notice. The benefit to me is that they pay my housing expenses! Cha-ching....my student loans are very happy!
The disadvantage is that my nearest certified Sisterlocks consultant will be over two hours away. I'm heart broken but considering that I only have to get my locks retightened once a month, I'm willing to drive the distance. I can only hope and pray that I will find a consultant as wonderful as Wendy, the consultant that I have here. I'm nervous though nonetheless.
The other benefit to moving to Mississippi is that I will get to spend more time with my boyfriend. We both work and travel for the same company and right now he is in Mississippi too. This long distance relationship stuff is really hard but we do okay with it. We're used to it after all. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to be able to see him everyday. I'm ecstatic!
Right now though my boyfriend feels a little differently. He is upset with me because I've shared with others the news that we are dating. He says that he doesn't want other people in his business and is worried that people will judge him because of it. For me, it's only natural to talk about him just as others talk about their spouses or significant others in conversation, but to him it's all taboo. We've both worked with surgeons that are spouses that operate opposite each other on the same patients so it's proof (to me anyway) that couples can work together and remain professional at the same time. He sees things differently, but then again I am definitely more of a social person than he is.
So tell me what you think....are relationships between coworkers doomed from the start or can people really love each other and keep their professional relationships separate from their relationships at home?
I received some news the other day that it's time to move from California to a new location in Mississippi. You see, I'm a corporate traveler with the company I work for so I move to a new location (a different state usually) every few months. I enjoy the change and getting used to a new area and there are definite benefits to both the company and me. The benefit to them is that they can call me at any time to move to another location with somewhat short notice. The benefit to me is that they pay my housing expenses! Cha-ching....my student loans are very happy!
The disadvantage is that my nearest certified Sisterlocks consultant will be over two hours away. I'm heart broken but considering that I only have to get my locks retightened once a month, I'm willing to drive the distance. I can only hope and pray that I will find a consultant as wonderful as Wendy, the consultant that I have here. I'm nervous though nonetheless.
The other benefit to moving to Mississippi is that I will get to spend more time with my boyfriend. We both work and travel for the same company and right now he is in Mississippi too. This long distance relationship stuff is really hard but we do okay with it. We're used to it after all. I can only imagine how wonderful it will be to be able to see him everyday. I'm ecstatic!
Right now though my boyfriend feels a little differently. He is upset with me because I've shared with others the news that we are dating. He says that he doesn't want other people in his business and is worried that people will judge him because of it. For me, it's only natural to talk about him just as others talk about their spouses or significant others in conversation, but to him it's all taboo. We've both worked with surgeons that are spouses that operate opposite each other on the same patients so it's proof (to me anyway) that couples can work together and remain professional at the same time. He sees things differently, but then again I am definitely more of a social person than he is.
So tell me what you think....are relationships between coworkers doomed from the start or can people really love each other and keep their professional relationships separate from their relationships at home?
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