It's been a fun busy week here for sure!
My office got repainted (remember the car went through the wall early 2022 and it was redone then)...BUT they don't like it so today (a week later) I came in to find out they are going to repaint it again. Came out too dark they said. Whatever!! haha. This is why I don't remodel! Use it til I'm done and then move on -- that isn't necessarily an easy solution either as you know!
GPA got the flu after family came to visit for Christmas so he stayed home and tried to make sure to not share it any further. Sadly that meant no lunch out on Friday and no New Year's Eve party for him. Poor guy! But also really nice to save us all from his germs. I think he's feeling better now. Planning to dinner with him tonight. 
Saturday night we went to B&Ls house and had our annual New Year's Eve party -- complete with yummy food, a fun crowd, games and talking. With a toast at the end. Nick and Annie and kids came, B&L and us. Smaller crowd then some years. I was shocked that JAXSON stayed awake til midinight! What?! He's 4! WOW! He did good-- and he's a cutie so it was fun to play with him!
Sunday morning bright and early we got up and headed to California. We had about a 6 hour bus ride. There were 38 people total in our group. I was the youngest of the group (the tour guide was younger...but she was paid to be there! haha). 
When we arrived in California we went to the Griffith Observatory and it was clear and beautiful so we got some great views. That's where we talked to you from! That evening we went to a Mexican Cantina -- Guadalajuara Grill in Baldwin Park, CA. We shared a platter (still cost almost $30!!!!) But it was a very "cultural" experience. They had a mariachi band -- live music! and it was cool to experience the local restaurant. 
Monday morning we had to be on the bus at 5:30 a.m. to go to the Rose Parade. We had stadium reserved seats and they were on the parade route in a good location - 1530 Colorado Street...or something close to that!)
We went to Maria's Italian Kitchen in Pasadena CA for lunch -- it was also a fun cultural experience with local flare. We were on a time crunch so we couldn't get what we wanted to eat but we got some really yummy food and wished we could go back another time when we could order more of their menu items. We ate with a cute couple we met...Bob and Judy Bolivar. They were originally from CA and he worked at Hughes aircraft...same place Sheryl Rubin Strang used to work...but he said it is a HUGE company and he didn't know her. They live by Tuacahn now and took our number and want to go out with us again sometime.
After lunch (which we were late and they called us and had a whole bus waiting on us cause our restaurant was slow...oopsy!!! haha) we went to the after party viewing of all the floats...up close and personal. There were so many people there. It was crazy! Seriously -- and at $20 a head to get in they had to make a killing! GEESH!  |
| Some of our friends from the bus tour |
Just as a side note someone looked up on the internet and the floats are all made of live flowers...they are created just a day or two before the parade (due to freshness issues) and the avg cost per float is $250,000...you heard that right!!!! What the heck! Sometimes I question money and how it is used in our world!
And it was cold. BUT our wings were hot. Hmmm...luckily we had a microwave and it really was a delicious pizza. But wow what a wait. We were going to invite some of our friends to eat with us but they all did other things. Guess it's good that they did cause that was a really long wait for dinner!
Tuesday morning we had a later start time...8 a.m. -- Rinda and Roland Hunter (from our ward...Lora Madison's parents...did you know that?! Also, Lora is a twin...did you know that?) bought us egg muffins from McD's -- cause the hotel breakfast was kind of disappointing. What a nice surprise!
We headed to the Ronald Reagan Museum -- which also houses air force one airplane. It was a really cool impressive museum. We spent about 3 hours there and it was just the right amount of time...although it's true you could spend all day there looking at all the signs and exhibits. It was really inspiring and fun.
We then started our trip back to Utah. We stopped in Barstow at this cool stop that had an amazing amount of junk for sale! Like a huge flea market almost.
In Las Vegas we stopped at a casino and had a buffet. We ate with Roland and Rinda and got to know them a little better. They are a combined family - both their spouses cheated on them so they came with their own sets of kids and meshed families 43 years ago I think he said. Kinda cool.
Back at it today and still floating around the office hopeful for a place to land until my office is back together again.
My thought for the week comes from the Reagan museum...he was such a great man. He worked hard and encouraged others to work as well. He didn't believe in welfare and he encouraged the economy to grow and develop.
Ronald Reagan grew up in Dixon which was a small town. He learned to admire self reliance and energy. He said almost everyone in that town knew everyone else. And since they knew everyone else they tended to care about everyone else.
 |
| Roland and Rinda Hunter |
Whatever happens now, I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can...Ronald Reagan.
What an inspiration. Imagine if everyone lived their life with that attitude!
 |
| Pasadena College |
Have a great week and know that you are loved!!!
Love you !!! mom
Comments
Post a Comment