Drove Highway 1 from Monterey to Big Sur (with MANY stops for photo ops and a lovely brunch at an adorable inn). Easily a top 5 day of my life. Truly stunning.
I agree with this and forgot about this on my list. We stayed in Carmel for 3 nights and on one of the days, drove Highway 1 down to Big Sur. First, Carmel is one of my favorite places ever and I’m dying to go back. But also this drive was magical. We went to (I think it was called) Julia Pfeiffer Beach and saw purple sand. Everywhere in Big Sur was amazing.
Took a backcountry tour of Monument Valley with a Navajo guide- it is a stunning place. But on top of that, our guide was the best teacher and storyteller, teaching us so much about Navajo culture and telling stories of growing up here. We got to see places you can only see with a guide. Such a cool experience
We did a semi-private tour of Napa years ago and our guide had relationships with so many winemakers. We got to go to one small vineyard that bigger tours and the public could not access. The winery owner drove us around his vineyard on a golf cart, let us taste 100+ year old balsamic vinegar and we got to taste wine in his kitchen.
This was a random occurrence but while in Chicago to see Hamilton, we randomly were then seated at dinner right next to Miguel Cervantes (who played Hamilton) and got to chat with him and get a photo.
Seeing the Milky Way and a shooting star with the naked eye in Arches NP
Hiking up to see the Grand Prismatic Spring from above in Yellowstone
Post by RoxMonster on May 30, 2024 13:35:12 GMT -5
Our staycation this week is going really well. Today we had lunch at this fun bar right on the river with an awesome patio. I got the most delightful fruity cocktail that was similar to a Sex on the Beach.
Post by RoxMonster on May 25, 2024 15:03:44 GMT -5
Such a beautiful day here! We went to the annual wine and music fest at a local winery. It’s gorgeous out here and always feels like the kick-off to summer.
Cannot deal with the ads on the site lately. Anytime I am trying to write a reply somehow the page moves and I end up clicking some dumb ad and lose my post. Aargh
I have a really hard time when I'm on my phone with accidentally hitting something when I'm trying to reply and it either navigates to an ad or posts a half unfinished post.
I’m on vacation next week and have no motivation to work today or tomorrow.
Our trip isn’t until August so this is a staycation but I have so much PTO to use by year end and my boss gave me a free day off as recognition so I figured, why not take a week now while weather is nice?
Post by RoxMonster on May 22, 2024 13:08:37 GMT -5
I pack a lot of clothes because I’m plus size and it’s hell finding clothes that fit and are my size. So I can’t just run out at my destination and buy something if I packed for the wrong temperature or something else happens. We also mainly do very active national park-type trips and laundry facilities can be very hard to find in parks and some gateway towns, plus even if some parks do have one, they may have a fragile water supply so I don’t want to use it for washing clothes. Also sweaty hiking clothes often with bug spray on them I don’t want to re-wear without washing.
Post by RoxMonster on May 19, 2024 16:42:15 GMT -5
We had a really fun weekend. I was thinking back, and I feel like over the winter, we barely did anything for fun. My seasonal depression wasn't great and I also had the horrible upper respiratory crud for awhile, so I mainly just hung out at home. With summer finally getting here, it's nice to go out and do stuff again.
Friday night, we went out for seafood for dinner. Yesterday was the start up of the Saturday farmers market, which is our tradition every week in the summer. Last night we went to a baseball game. This afternoon, we went to a local park where the park district has a mobile taphouse, live music, food trucks, and other activities and chilled with a drink for awhile. It was hot out but very fun.
I told H yesterday that my more fun half comes alive in the summer lol. I want to make it a point to do at least one thing for fun outside the house each weekend this summer and fall and take advantage of the daylight.
Last night I flew through Daughter’s Drawings by Nick Botic. SO creepy and disturbing. Definitely check trigger warnings before reading. I did think the ending felt very rushed.
Otherwise right up my alley for a creepy thriller. 4 stars
Post by RoxMonster on May 17, 2024 21:30:22 GMT -5
The situation that really annoys me is when I am doing required learning/compliance training in Workday and sometimes it's a video I have to watch that is longer than 5 minutes. Teams will go yellow on me even though I'm sitting there watching a freakin' required learning video! I have to keep moving my mouse to not go idle. I mean, thinking about it, I do understand my mouse isn't moving but it just grinds my gears that I am doing compliance training the company assigns us to do and it says I am away from my computer lol.
Anything by Ann Rule. She was true crime before it was cool. Her books are older, but they are really well researched and she had good relationships with law enforcements.
Her most famous book is the Stranger Beside Me about Ted Bundy - who she was friends with at one time.
I agree. I love Ann Rule and have read many of hers.
I actually read The Stranger Beside Me on my honeymoon sitting by the pool lol
Post by RoxMonster on May 13, 2024 15:08:03 GMT -5
Sunday: We grilled hot dogs with homemade pasta salad, corn on the cob, and fruit Monday: Chicken Parmesan, baked potato, green beans Tuesday: I’m doing a “paint your pet” night at a pub with co-workers so I’ll eat there and H will figure something out Wed: Probably chicken parm leftovers
Post by RoxMonster on May 12, 2024 11:56:48 GMT -5
Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate!
H and I did a hike first thing this AM. It was very peaceful and I’m now the nerd who likes seeing which new birds come up on my Merlin app. Then we got breakfast out.
Post by RoxMonster on May 11, 2024 15:22:05 GMT -5
Today is such a beautiful day. Got my hair done this morning. Then we walked around a fine art fair, went to a brewery and had drinks on the patio, now I’m home reading on my own patio and about to walk the dog.
Tonight we’re driving to a nearby town to have dinner at this family restaurant that is supposed to have delicious fried chicken. Also hearing we have a shot at seeing the Aurora tonight since we were cloudy last night so fingers crossed.
Post by RoxMonster on May 11, 2024 10:18:29 GMT -5
I’m so disappointed we didn’t get to see them. All the meteorologists were saying they would be visible after 10 in our area but would be too cloudy so I kind of forgot about it. Then at 10:30, saw pics from our city of amazing lights from an hour prior. H and I drove out to the country but it was too cloudy by then ☹️ I was so sad because this has been a bucket list item for years.
Crossing my fingers for tonight but I think we’re too far south.
Thanks, all! These are great suggestions and I need to do some more research and run them by H.
We have done Deep Creek and the Finger Lakes, though it's been years. I'd like to go back someday, but probably prefer some place new.
For those of you saying Michigan, can you name some particular towns I should be looking at? I've always wanted to go that direction so that might win.
We've been to MI a few times. If you do the western shore, we really loved South Haven and Saugatuck. South Haven had a wonderful beach and a cute downtown area.
Possibly my favorite MI trip was when we did Mackinac Island and then the Leelanau Peninsula. We stayed near Suttons Bay, visited a bunch of cute towns on the peninsula and visited Sleeping Bear Dunes. We don't have kids and a lot of trip was winery-focused but there's some nice beaches, the national lakeshore is fun, and Mackinac Island was fun with biking it, etc.
***PDQ I might delete later to avoid him Googling and finding this thread****
I also have a co-worker who has a robot lawn mower. However, his first two both got stolen right out of his yard while mowing. The first time, the person even came back at a later time to steal the charger out of his yard. The second time, he purchased GPS with it but by the time the police got involved and it was tracked to a scrap yard, it was too late.
He did get a third one but now he won't run it unless he is actively sitting outside watching it mow.
I enjoy all of her books. This one was a slow burn at first and I think the first 15% or so could have gone a bit faster. But then it picked up pace and I flew through it. I did guess the main culprit early on but it didn’t take away from enjoying the book.
We just bought an Ego this year and love it. It cuts thick grass WAY better than our old gas mower did. (It's also nice having a self-propelled after having a push mower for 13 years). We bought it a couple months ago when they had a deal that you could get a back-up battery for free. Honestly our yard is small enough that we can easily cut the entire thing on one charge - the battery isn't even low when we are done, but also nice to have a second battery for the fall when we'll be cutting/mulching leaves and it will take more time.
It’s beautiful here so far but severe storms are coming later. Went to two plant sales this morning but ended up just grabbing a few more annuals from Lowe’s to complete our container pots this year. The sales mainly had perennials.
Now I’m sitting on the patio in the shade reading while H plants them lol.