We're Baaaaaack!!! (Grrrr)

I want to say that we're tanned, rested and ready (kind of like Nixon for 2008), but that would be a lie. I've never managed to turn into the one big freckle I imagined was possible when I was a youngster to get that coveted all-over tan, and gave up years ago. Let's just say I didn't suffer any serious burns. Other than carpet. he.

Ok, TMI!

And I have to admit that Hubby had to drag me kicking and screaming onto the plane back. Not because I was afraid of flying, amazingly enough---but because I just didn't want to come home!

Speaking of flying---I did it! I've had a serious, I mean SERIOUS phobia about flying which intensified after 9/11 and an incident that happened with Hubby's family. Not going to go into it in this post, but getting on a plane hasn't been an option for around 11 years.

I did it without meds or booze to help me along too! Hubby MIGHT be able to golf again next spring once the crunchy little bones in his hand have mended, but to me, the whole trip was worth a little discomfort on his part.

So on the first leg of our trip, we flew down to San Diego and rented a car to drive out to Coronado Island (it's really an isthmus, but who's counting?). Since this was for our anniversary, Hubby went whole hog and got the luxury sedan. Woohoo!

We stayed at the historic Hotel Del Coronado. I'd been there a couple of times while growing up, but Hubby had never been. This has been on my list of "places I'd like to go someday with Hubby", so it was really exciting for us!


We got a King room (hah--more on that later) in the old part of the hotel, and it truly is a Grand Old Lady, architecturally and historically. And the service was just amazing, for the most part.

The summer is obviously the busy season, and there were a lot of people there. Many groups from all over the country and the world.

Since I haven't traveled afar in the last several years, I guess I just forgot how culturally insulated we've been in our little mountain town. Seeing and interacting with an incredibly diverse array of families and groups was really a joy. A little funny too.

The first day we were there, we spent a little time "people watching", listening to all the different languages and taking in the total ambiance while sitting in the courtyard. Later that evening when we were leaving for dinner, Hubby had to run back up to the room to get our valet ticket so I sat out front and waited.

An Asian family walked by me---and don't ask me to be more specific, because I'm simply not astute enough to recognize all the differences. There was a mom, a dad, another adult female and 5 youngsters, the oldest was about 10. They were all very small (lots of people are small compared to Hubby and I) and wore coordinating summer outfits of t-shirts and shorts. Their little boy, who looked to be about 5 or 6 suddenly broke away and raced ahead full speed.

I waited for one of the adults to call to him, and expected to hear some fabulously exotic language.

Instead, the mom opened her mouth and Fran Drescher fell out: "AWWWWSTIN! STOP! D'ja hear me or what? Red Light! Red Light! AWWWSTIN! Get back heah! Don't make me chase yewwwoooo!"

I laughed so hard at my own doofusness that I almost fell over. ;-)