Our town is in a state of emergency… all the dummies who live by the river are flooded… “shocker”. I, on the other hand, am not a dummy, I live on a hill. People need to realize that when they live by the river chances are you’ll be flooded at least once. It’s been raining for 4 days straight and the grass if turning a beautiful green, the leaves on the trees are budding and the flowers are blooming.
Surprisingly I’m enjoying the rain. It is so refreshing to have rain instead of snow.
Ryan just called me and said that a client of his is taking us to India, letting us stay at his 40,000 sq. foot place and going to tour us all over India…. AND best part is that his client wants to pay for our flights too! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!! OMG! I get to go see the Taj Mahal! How crazy killer is that! And Why did he offer this to Ryan? Cuz he likes him. GAH! I’m sooooo glad my hubs gets along with anyone and everyone. *Squeeeeeeee*
I’m so excited out of my mind! Now we are just arguing over how long to go for. His client wants us to be there for a month. Ryan doesn’t want to go for that long cuz of work and cuz of the kids…. If it’s in December or Jan, then hopefully we’ll have our nanny by then, so I say no prob. Bob, but Mr. Responsible is being all responsible on me. HOLY CHEESE AND RICE! I’m thrilled out of my mind! I’m all like, ‘let’s go for a month!’ 2 months would be too long, but I think a month would be good. Whateves. Even if it’s just for 2 weeks. I’m still pumped, cuz a local will be touring us around and that’s the BEST cuz they know where to go, what to avoid, etc. and 40,000 sq. foot mansion?!? Hell ya! I’m soooooooooooo there! I can’t wait to go and see the sights, the culture, the people!
Only one child missed me while we were away…. well, I know Luke did because he broke out into a huge smile and came for hugs and stayed by my side for a while, but he can’t talk yet.
Brandon: Mommy, I was being really, really extra good while you were away.
Me: “Oh ya? That’s great Brandon!”
Brandon: Ya, I was being really good so you would come back home because I missed you. I really wanted you to come home.
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Luke was climbing on the cupboards and Laura went to get him down. He held up his hand, looked at her and said, “Go way! Go way!”
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Luke’s bath day.
Bath #1:
For breakfast he had some yogurt and dumped the bowl on his head, smeared it on the table and all over his face.
Bath #2:
His diaper exploded with poo… Ewww…
Bath #3:
Luke went outside and played in the mud.
Bath #4:
Luke grabbed some pudding and rubbed it all over his face and in his hair.
Bath #5:
Diaper explosion #2.
Bath #6:
I think Mya felt that Luke needed that extra special something to complete his outfit, so she took a felt marker and drew all over Luke. Luke thought he liked the idea of body art and felt the need to add to the drawings his sister was doing on him. So he helped her color his his tummy, legs, face and arms.
Bath #7
For supper we had spaghetti and…. of course he got it all over his face, body and dumped it on his head… why? because food tastes better when you dump it on your head… try it. You might get odd looks, but really, you’re just channeling your inner toddler.
I think I should have just kept him in the tub all day.
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I had my hair curly today, so I tossed it into a ponytail and took the kids to school. I rolled down the windows because it was +25 and I love to put my hand out of the window and let the wind run through my fingers. The wind whipped through the van since I rolled both windows down and it was tossing my hair around.
Mya: Mom, Your hair is CRAZY!
Me: Why is it crazy? I turn to look at her and she’s scrunched up her face like, “that’s so weird”
Mya: Because your hair is all over the place and just… just… crazy!
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Luke woke up, went straight to the pantry, spilled the entire bag of oatmeal on the floor, my small bucket of sugar all over the floor AND 300 straws on the floor…. after I cleaned all that up, his next project was to take the dishes out of the dishwasher and throw them off the deck onto the grass in the backyard… thankfully none of the plates broke… *sigh*
…. anyone want a toddler? He’s cute…. and just a tad on the mischievous side…
Now that I’ve gotten back from Vegas I want to go somewhere else…. at first I thought next year I’ll go to Italy because that’s my top destination. Ryan’s lil bro. wants to go with me in 2010. ok… so then I thought, oohhh New Zealand in 2009 because I want to go do parasailing and paragliding and do more skydiving… then I told my friend Christina and now she wants to go with me. So then I thought… hmmm… maybe Australia! I’ve always wanted to go down under. My friend Shauna told me to come with her in 2009 in November.
I like the idea of traveling companions, but the loner in me also just wants to go by myself. I don’t mind if I meet a friend for a day, but I really need to be by myself for a couple days. I’m really craving solitude. I miss being by myself on the farm. I miss the quiet. I miss just doing my own thing without having to worry that other people are having a good time or trying to schedule things around other people.
I’ve decided I’m going to go somewhere for a weekend. A short weekend trip to a beach with nothing to do but read, take walks, think and lounge…. be a cat pretty much. I normally wouldn’t like this kind of trip, but I just need to get my head on straight, make plans, goals and focus on what is important. I feel like I’m going to snap. I used to love chaos, but now it’s stressing me out too much.
I’m also going to just keep my big mouth shut about my travel plans too. Maybe in September I’ll go over the long weekend and just book a little time away. Then next year I’ll hopefully be more inclined to have travel guests on my little excursions visiting countries around the world. My goal is to go to 2 countries every year, either by myself, with friends or with the ball and chain or with the whole family.
Maybe I’ll head to the Bahamas or somewhere WestJet flies for the weekend. Grab a little cabin, take along my journal, my books and just relax for 3 days. Yep, that’s what I’m gonna go. I need something to look forward to in order to get me through the days.
The ringing phone shattered my dreams and brought me to a hazy reality. I grabbed the phone and just listened. It was Elvis!
“Good morning! Welcome to Vegas baby! It’s time to wake up and enjoy the day,” said the Elvis voice.
Nice.
Only in Vegas can I get a wake up call from Elvis. Love it…. I wonder if I go to California if I can get a wake up call from Tom Welling?… hmm….
I lay in bed for a few moments trying to wake up. Once my mind reviews the things I have planned my heart is pumping the adrenaline is going and I shoot out of bed. I’m so excited. The cell phone buzzes. Dave has sent a text that he is on his way. Excellent. I finally get to meet this elusive guy. The adrenaline kicks it up a notch. I hop in the shower. The water is not draining and pools at the bottom of the tub… *sigh* I wish we were at the Venetian at this point cuz I know it will be amazing, but hey, it’s free so I have no right to complain.
“Uhh… Joanne?” Ryan pops his head into the bathroom.
“Ya?”
“Dave wants to know if he can come over to our room to freshen up.”
“WHAT?!? Are you kidding me?”
“Umm… no.”
I peer out of the curtain to look at his face. Nope he’s serious.
I laugh. How funny. Nothing like getting to meet each other for the first time and getting ready at the same time. Craziness. Excellent, I love surprises. I’m shocked actually and pumped.
“Whatever. I don’t care. I think it’s hilarious. As long as you don’t mind, just tell him to wait until we can get dressed.”
I cut the shower short, which I really didn’t mind cuz a flood is gonna happen if I don’t get out. I scramble to get dressed and tidy up the room a bit. Ryan’s turn in the shower and I’m trying to focus on what I’m doing.
I’m annoyed that the shower is not draining and wondering if he wants to take a shower and what the heck happened to him? Questions race through my mind as I fly about. Of course I should have called up maintenance to fix the problem right away, but that didn’t cross my mind until later.
I’m glad that Dave is comfortable enough with us that he can show up, change, shave and get ready in our hotel room. I laugh at the silliness of it all. The adrenaline jacks up another notch. I feel the energy race throughout my body. This is going to be a fun day. I’m worried that everyone will get along and wonder if I’ve made mistakes in the planning and inviting.
Dave arrives and he looks just as cute as he he does in all his pics and tall! Holy! He’s a whole foot taller than me. I shake his hand which seems awkward to me, but I just push the feeling out of the way and begin chattering. He has a warm smile and puts me at ease. As I get going I sneak glances to see how he is reacting and handling the energy. His eye brows shoot up several times. Wonderful. Exactly what I was going for. He can handle it, for how long, we’ll have to see how good his patience is. This is gonna be fun. I race around still frantically trying to get ready.
We need to be down for breakfast by 6:30am. Of course we don’t get down there until 7:15am. Late as always. One day I’d like to be on time and early. We meet up with Leslie and Kim who have sat down to eat at the buffet. Dave gets a cool reception from her. Instantly I know it’s going to be a rough day and I sigh. I’m annoyed that we’ve missed breakfast. I don’t care if I eat, cuz I normally skip breakfast anyway, but Ryan gets really cranky if he doesn’t eat and I’m not sure how Dave reacts to no food. Time will tell.
We all pile into ‘Jenna’ Dave’s blue VW and head off to Jean NV. The girls are chattering and laughing. I call the Extreme skydiving place and we’re still good to go. When we were at the hotel I had a vile of ginseng, royal jelly and a couple of bee pollen pills. Since I don’t drink caffeine, the stuff hits me when we are in the car. We turn into the airport and my energy goes off the charts. I feel like I’m going to burst. The car ride is killing me. I need to release this energy and get up and go.
We get to the skydiving building. They usher Dave and I into a small little room. We are given forms to fill out. I don’t even read the form, the small print or the blah, blah, blah. I just sign my name… and not even get that right. I write it on the wrong line… Focus. I can’t focus.
We have to watch this video that is hosted by Moses. The guy has a crazy wild beard. I can’t even pay attention to that. I figure the instructor will maybe tell me what I have to do and give me a little refresher right before we head out. I’m attached to someone else, it’s not like I have to know what I’m doing. I’m just along for the ride. Dave is focusing intently on what is being said. I try to keep quiet so he can listen, but Leslie comes in and distracts me. I’m looking everywhere except the video.
I’ve always wanted to go sky diving and here I am. Right at this moment. I’m so excited and pumped. I try so hard to settle down, it’s not working. Even though I’m not talking my body feels like it’s going to explode. I just want to go for a run to get rid of this energy. I shouldn’t have taken that energy stuff this morning. It’s throwing me for a loop. I usually get a rush like this before a race. My leg shakes in order to release some energy. My mind is flying everywhere at a million miles a second.
Finally Moses stops talking. I think most of what was said just swooshes over my head. We get our jump suits. Dave has a blue polka dot suit. He rocked the suit. It looked hilarious, but it was all good. I take a picture and he channels Michael Jackson in his pose. They gave me a purple thing.
Mike, my tandum guy, helps me into the suit.
“Stop moving and settle down.” He says trying to buckle me up as I bounce around.
“ok, sorry.” But then 2 seconds later my leg is shaking and I’m swaying back and forth.
“If you don’t stop moving you’re not going to make it to the ground alive.” he says.
“Just so you know $200 is in it for you if she doesn’t make it back.” Ryan offers, “I just took out a $800,000 dollar insurance policy against her, so it’s ok”
LOL… it’s how he says he loves me.
“How many times have you jumped?” I inquire of Mike.
“3″
I keep chattering to Leslie as he is buttoning and cinching me up. I heard the number, but didn’t acknowledge it.
“You didn’t even miss a beat or catch that did you.” he asks me.
I laugh. “I did, I just knew you were kidding.”
He’s actually done 2000 jumps, he informs me… good enough.
We go through and review what Moses was talking about….see I knew someone would run through it again.
Mike takes out the video camera and we head out. I get on the plane and I’m pumped. I have to swallow my gum and sit on Mike’s lap. It’s all good, he’s got nice blue eyes like my dad’s. Up, up we go. There are 6 of us crammed in this tiny space on the plane. I stop talking because the plane is noisy. I love planes. I want to fly one. I need to start taking lessons. Ryan got me a beginners lesson, but I want to learn more. I love the lift up in a plane, the view and the bird’s eye view. I just relaxed and watched everything go by. Unfortunately, being out in the desert there wasn’t much to watch. A lot of sand, sage brush and more sand. A little disappointing considering that I get to see the Rocky Mountains and the lush Kananaskis when I go up in a plane. There’s so much more to see out in Alberta, but hey, I’m in Nevada and it’s the dessert.
Up, up, we go. I was so thrilled. I’ve always wanted to do this and I was so pumped. I grew quiet, just looking out the window and drinking in this moment trying to embed it into my memory so I could remember this forever. We reach 15, 000 feet and it’s the first guys turn to jump. The sound of the air rushing through the cabin freaked me out. They jumped out and I began to scream! I covered my eyes and my adrenaline was racing. Mike scoots over to the edge.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
“Nononononononononononono….” I scream and shake my head. He tilts my head back and pushes off. I close my eyes and I scream for the first 5 seconds. I force my eyes open cuz I don’t want to miss this. I hate this falling feeling. I feel like I left my stomach back in the plane. It was just surreal. The wind rushing by was so noisy and loud. My legs grew numb and I just wanted the parachute to open up. After what seems like forever the tug of the parachute whips us up. Then everything goes silent. The fluttering of the parachute is all you hear from up high. It was so peaceful. I loved it.
I looked for Dave and the other guy and they were already so close to the ground. Mike asks me if I like roller coasters… umm… heck ya! So he twirls and spins us around. It was dizzy fun. Yippee… I just want to float around in the sky for awhile longer. I want to do this again… but somewhere that has lots to look at from the sky.
We landed and after the dust settled I had Mike help me up. I was just so content and happy. That was so much fun. I wanted to do it again.
Ryan, Leslie and Kim met us at the drop zone. After posing for a couple of pics, Dave and I hopped into the van that took us back to the airport. I got a DVD of the jump, changed out of the purple outfit, then we headed off to Pahrump to go find the Spring Mountain Racetrack and ride in the Bishop’s radical SR3. Another adventure awaited us…
Unfortunately I forgot to take my journal so I’m writing all that I can remember here instead. I was racing around like a mad woman trying to get everything done and alas I did not. The laundry was done but not put away, I didn’t get around to making the cinnamon buns and I didn’t finish planning my trip. I didn’t pack until 30 min before the trip. I was so stressed about the trip. I didn’t calm down until I was in the airport and checked in. It is so much work to prep the kids, the house, the sitters, packing, the trip details, tying up details at work and activities committee.
The que to go through the airport was crazy long. US Customs was painfully slow and it was funny to watch people. People watching is one of my favorite activities. It amuses me greatly. I watched the customs guys as they checked people through, they were all so serious and I was placing bets as to who we would get. I was determined to make the guy smile. I bounced through customs, chatting it up with the customs guy. I made him smile and laugh. Goal achieved.
I didn’t eat anything all day and was starving. The area we were in only had this tiny sandwich stand and a little newspaper stand with junk food. I spied a Bernard Callebaut chocolate store and ran around like crazy trying to find a way out of where I was and an in to the other side. Alas I couldn’t, so I pawed and banged at the window creating a spectacle, but I didn’t care. Finally, I gave up and sauntered over to the sandwich stand and grabbed some sort of turkey thing. I ate the sandwich remorsefully, while cursing the design of the ridiculous airport. If you’re going to put the world’s best chocolatier in a freakn’ airport they need to make it accessible to all… even those who have cleared US customs.
I love WestJet. If you fly on a plane. Go with them. They are friendly, funny, warm and a great ride. I wish I had my journal so I could quickly jot more of their funny comments down. Some of the comments I remember that they said,
“In the back is some eye candy his name is Lance.”
Male stewardess to the female stewardess: “Would you stop just standing there and looking pretty. Do something already.” The stewardess then goes and chokes the guy with the mic cord.
When they came around to check if we’ve put on seatbelts etc. Just for the sake of being goofy I smiled at the male stewardess and said, “Thanks baby!” with a wink. The rest of the flight I said, “hey baby, I need a pillow or a can of juice please baby!” he ate it up and gave me whatever I asked for and more. If I didn’t say baby he’d demand I say it first before he gave me anything. It was hilarious. When I left I gave him a huge grin and said, “see ya later baby!” The guy was so funny. It was great.
When the plane took off I cheered, “whoo hoo!” as we rocked it towards the sky and Vegas. After a cranberry juice and pretzel snacks and curled up in my seat, lay my head on Ryan’s lap and slept all the way to Vegas.
Once we arrived, I began to get excited. The airport is so tiny. We grabbed our bags and tried to figure out how we would get to the hotel. I tried the shuttle. No luck. No one going to our crap hotel. So we went outside to catch a cab…
Hustle #1: A limo driver comes up and tell us that he can give us a ride to the airport for $80. He tells us that a cab driver would be $72 to get to the hotel. I totally knew it was a lie and told him that he was feeding me a line. He keeps up his sales pitch and I look at Ryan. He shrugs. So what the hell, why not? We load up our bags and take a ridiculous $80 limo ride to the hotel. It was ok. Nothing oohh, la la. I couldn’t figure out how to open the window and hang out the top. I played with all the buttons and made the divider window go up and down over and over again….
We arrived, check into the Stratosphere hotel. They upgraded us to: 31723. If this room was an upgrade I hate to see what the other rooms are like. Ick. We had 2 Queen beds. Normally I would have complained, but I love sleeping in my own bed. So I said nothing. Our room was small, the tub didn’t drain and the sink smelled like the sewer and the TV didn’t work. I was happy about the TV not working, but Ryan wasn’t.
I tried to call Dave but couldn’t get a hold of him so I thought that maybe he wasn’t coming down after all. I had no idea if he wanted to hang out just for the Saturday or the Sunday as well or what time he was going home or anything. It was all very vague to me. I figured it was smart of him, this way if either of us couldn’t stand each other we had a polite out. I mentally planned out a plan B in case he didn’t show.
Ryan and I lightly planned out the next couple of days. We tossed off our bags then went and explored the hotel. I immediately got annoyed. Everything is in a maze. The casino is lumped in the middle then there are hallways like tentacles connected to the hotel. It was frustrating and I felt like we were walking around in circles. We ran into Leslie and her friend Kim. We chatted, laughed and goofed around. Around midnight we retired to our hotel and crashed cuz we had a big day tomorrow.
When we arrived and I told people that this was our first time here a lady told me, “you’ll love it! Vegas is the adult disneyland.” Not so. Vegas isn’t MY adult Disneyland. I guess I’m a different traveler.
There was the fantastic, the good, the bad and the horrible during our short 4 night 5 day trip.
The bad:
Dealing with personalities
Sunday
Not having a more detailed plan as to what we were doing each day
The horrible:
The casinos in the hotels.
The smoke in the hotels.
Constantly being hustled everywhere we went from the limo or taxi cab driver, to the punk kids trying to sell their CD’s, time share people in Vegas, going to a stupid time share production or sales people on the side of the road.
"Are you there? Pick up the phone if you’re there…. Hello? Joanne…. JOANNE…. JOOOAAANNNNNAAAAA…. Pick up the phone! Where are you? I want to talk to you! Your aunty is on the phone… Joanne… JOANNE….. JOOOAAANNNNNAAAAA…. Are you there? Hello?…. Hello?…"
Now the crazy thing is my answering machine doesn’t play the messages out loud as people are recording them so really she’s just screaming at the machine the entire time.
