Making New Memories in an Ever Changing World - Pt. 1

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ello to all in blogger land. I will say it is great to be back online again, but coming off of a vacation makes it very hard to get back into the swing of things. We've been back in Maryland since August 16th, and I will be the first to fess up and say - Dang that jet lag. I feel almost zombiefied, is that a word? Oh well if it's not, but it explains my sluggish presence both physical and mentally. So where did I go on vacation you ask? Well then let me share my story with you.

It was a place that I had been reminiscing about for the last twenty years - going back to California where I started my military career.  The only thing I had was the memories that I had stored in my mind because for some unknown reason I didn't take to many photographs of my time in California, which has never made any sense to me. I have a video tape of parts of the base, which only has me thinking one thing, my mind was not on the base, it was on the atmosphere and the hot men on the base. Hey I'm a woman, and then I was single and a free agent. After Ron and I got married I had only been there a total of five days with him and we never went on the base together, we spent our time together at his apartment or watching sunsets on the rocky cliff side of Point Mugu State Park. So my base memories are mainly from my days while going to "A" school, but one thing that has changed...I'm not checking the land for hot guys. 

Now don't get me wrong, I still think men look great in their Seabee uniforms, but there is only one man for me and it doesn't matter that he no longer wears his uniform now. I remember vividly what he looked like in his original solid green Seabee Uniform and it always takes my breath away.  Then when I stop to day dream about what he'd look like in it now, well let’s just say there is not enough cold water in Maryland to cool the burn. *Wink*.  Ok, ok, I can't think and write when my mind starts driving down gutter alley, so let me get back to my story. Now the average person with a normal mentality knows that after twenty years, 9 out of 10 times, nothing stays the same. I'd like to think of myself as average, but normal - hum???? I had it all done up beautiful in my mind what the day would be like when we would once again be stepping off the plane in LA. The only thing that was missing from my unrealistic thoughts was dancing bears, balloons and Bob Barker from the Price is Right. Yes, I know he's retired, I'm not that far gone. Smile. For some dumbass reason, I honestly believed that when I left Port Hueneme on July 3, 1991, all would stay the way I had left it. Can anyone please tell me WHAT THE HELL WAS I ON? Talk about crazy thinking as if I was living in the land of glittery rainbows and unicorns.

It was a wonderful feeling to know that this time I was returning with my family. Everything was going smoothly.  We found a great place for my truck in the long term parking lot, the bus was very prompt to get us to the terminal, and the line for security was almost as quick as our trip to Estes Park in November of 2011. As we waited to board our flight, my oldest son had gotten to meet one of the actors from Nitro Circus - Hubert Rollin; I think I got that right, who was traveling out to LA on the same plane as ours.  I can't even explain the amount of disappoint both of my sons felt when a seat they had hope he would fill next to them was taken by a lady that could only say a few words in English - "You have sanitizer, baby puke on me." My oldest son was relieved to know that he was not the one in the middle, his younger brother was, and would have to smell her unique perfume for the next four hours and forty-five minutes. I guess it was a blessing that he was prepared to keep his mind occupied while my oldest son chose to sleep.

I was so excited that I was going to get to show them where their mom and dad had gone to school to become Seabees. I couldn't wait to take them on the base to show them all the places I had gone when I lived there and show them all things I had seen as well. As the plane made its decent into LA, all looked as it did when I flew in for the very first time twenty years ago; which had me even more excited for a grand adventure. 

It wasn't until we got off the plane, the horror started. When I used to fly to California, I would travel American or Delta Airlines and both had a much larger terminal and if I recall correctly is also part of the main terminal. This time we flew Southwest, so the moment I stepped off the plane my world was not what I had remembered or had tried to envision. Where were all the people dressed in a multitude of colors in outfits from far off lands? Where was the striking blue carpets and marble floors? Where were the escalators that went on for miles and miles? It was nowhere to be found. I was feeling lost, confused, and completely out of my comfort zone, but I didn't let on to my family that I was in the midst of a pending panic attack. I knew they could sense that I was distraught and somewhat nervous, but they never said anything other than, let’s go get our luggage.

The location where we picked up our luggage was small, congested and very dark feeling. They had me sit down with our carry-on items until our bags arrived. I was in a daze and this picture below is how my mind felt. (That is my husband with the glasses hanging off his t-shirt and my younger son with the red hair waiting for our things). How they remained so cool, I'll never know as my husband dislikes large crowds.

I smiled at people who I recognized from our plane and continued to take in as much of my surroundings as I could. My reasons for this - someday I am sure there will be a next time for my travels to California and I won't feel so lost, however I immediately felt myself building a new set of blueprints in my mind, but this time I would make sure I'd have big bold letters that would say - Subject to change over the course of time. Smile.  We gathered up our luggage and made the trek outside to locate the shuttle that would take us to our rental car. This too was something new to me, as I got a better deal with a company outside of the terminal than I would have gotten with Budget or Dollar Rental, two companies I had preferred years before. My kids were amazed by the noticeable difference in the temperature - a bright sunny day that was no more than 78 degrees and dry. It was heavenly. In about an hour, maybe less, we found ourselves and our luggage venturing off in our 2012 Nissan Altima (My husband’s favorite rental car) making our way onto the highway heading towards PCH (Pacific Coast Highway Route 1) on our way to Port Hueneme/Oxnard. We were on our way back to a part of our lives, for my husband and I, when we were both single and at that moment I could hear in my subconscious a voice saying - "My dear daughter, nothing stays the same."

It was at this same moment I feared my choice to come back. I worried that maybe what I thought was a great life that my husband and I have together would be tested by memories that would instill regret by choices we have made. I know it sounds crazy, but life can be crazy and we all deal with it differently. I also knew I was going back to a place that also harbored a few bad memories for me, during my single days, and I was scared to know that it was time to face the truth and let go of events beyond my control. I needed to learn that what took place It was in the past and this time I was going to leave the past behind to move forward to make new memories with my family and that is just what I chose to do, but never in my wildest imagination did I ever think our family vacation would take some of the twists and turns that it did. The best way to describe it would be blending an episode of - When Vacations Attack with a big pile of Disneyland Magic.  It was indeed an adventure that we filled with new memories and I can't wait to share the rest of my story with you.

So join me tomorrow as my story continues and I introduce you to "Big Toe" and his pool buddies and why a tennis court has netting on a chainlink fence.  Look out Clark Griswold - You've got nothing on "Big Toe."  Until tomorrow - Blog ya later.

COULD A DREAM COME TRUE - TWICE? Part Two

The closer we got, the more we were filled with extreme anticipation as we rounded every turn, hoping this would be the moment that its image would appear before our very eyes. We knew we were almost there when we arrived at a security check point, was asked of our intentions and then waved on. We had talked about coming here for the past twenty years that we have been together and now in less than a mile we’d finally be there.  Suddenly as if it had jumped out from behind the hill side, there it was – The Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and the Hoover Dam. How massive both of these structures appeared as they stood.  We quickly found a place to park our car and immediately walked back to the Hoover dam and stood.

There were no chain link fences to keep people from sitting on the retaining walls. Why clutter a breathtaking man made marvel with fencing and endless signage. No police to tell you to stand back or don’t look over the edge. I guess in their minds, if someone is going to jump, then they are going to jump. They had simply stenciled on the stonewall area only (see picture to the left), on both sides of the road way going over the Dam, about every fifteen feet: DANGER KEEP OFF WALL. I guess if you can't figure that out, then someone is going to get hurt. (The white edges in the picture to the left indicated how much the water table has dropped).

We had made it just before the sun had officially gone down. However it was after hours and the gift shop and parking garage area were closed so we had to park in an area after crossing over the Dam. It was crazy to think that we were driving and then walking back and forth between time zones and on such a ginormous structure. My husband enjoys many of the Discovery and History Channel shows, such as Modern Marvels, Pawn Stars, Gold Rush, How’d They Do That?, etc. His favorite documentary was on the Construction of the Pat Tillman Bridge. It was because of this show, his wish was to drive across it, but time only graced us with the ability to enjoy its grand statement while standing on the Hoover Dam. We decided it would be another item added to our to-do list, but next time our boys will be with us. We just didn't realize that we would be making this trip twice in the same year and so, our boys and dear friends of ours will get to experience the same awe inspiring moment soon.

Now feeling a bit Jet lagged and extremely hungry, we made our way back over the hills of the Boulder City towards Las Vegas to witness the glow of light that was born into a marvelous abundance of city lights.  There were dancing signs, huge billboard advertisements of the most current headliners and Vegas shows blended in a stew with the hippest of Night Clubs and Resorts that all were decked out in the most intense and trance inducing multicolored illumination. It was AWESOME! It was truly the city of lights, with an electric bill that I personally would never want to pay.

When we arrived back to our hotel, we chose to eat at the MGM Grand Buffett. Now I don’t know if it was because it was ten o’clock at night or if the buffet was just that disappointing. Honestly, if we had to make a choice we would rather have eaten at the Country Buffet here in our home town. The meats were good, and some of the side dishes were fine, and the coffee was not only excellent, it was addicting. For the most part, we can say that we ate at the highly advertised Grand Buffet, but for $65.00 it was a not so grand meal. It could be all in preference or taste and everyone is different, but for us, next time you’ll find us at the either at the Mad Onion in the Hooters Casino and Resort or Gallagher’s Steakhouse located in the New York, New York Casino and Resort. My reviews on both of these places…AWESOME FOOD! AWESOME STAFF! And for Gallagher’s don’t bother getting a side dish if you get the cowboy rib-eye or the king cut prime rib these steaks are HUGE and that is no lie!  It is so phenomenal that I am posting the link now. http://www.gallaghersnysteakhouse.com/locationsfranchising-lasvegas.html

New York, New York Casino & Resort

Hooters - The Mad Onion is the resturant to the left of the picture.
And it is true...prime rib for only $9.95 and it was delicious

Even with the meal at the Buffet not as grand as we hoped, we ate and then made our way back to our room, being only sidetracked for about a half-an-hour by an oversized two seat nickel slot machine. It was a great day and our time had only just begun on our four day trip of business and pleasure. Still being on Eastern Standard Time we were up at 3:00 AM Vegas time and started our Friday with room service and their delicious Columbian coffee.  In four hours we would take advantage of more free time and enjoy horseback riding in the red rock canyon for the morning, then we would come back, shower and then head out to complete my registration forms for the book-to-screen "Pitchfest Las Vegas 2012" in the MGM Grand Ballroom at 5:00 pm and then my sweetheart and I would take part in the opening remarks and meet and greet cocktail gathering held in the upper level of the convention center that overlooked the Wet Republic club and the MGM Grand skyline.

Horseback Riding - Bonnie Springs

Now for those of you keeping up with my blogs that also include stories about my family and their personalities, and for those of you just tuning in.  It’s important to know this key tid-bit of information – my husband is the biggest country cowboy I know, so understand my utter disbelief when not only did he drive the highway when he jumped behind the wheel of our hot sports car, he took ownership of the roads both in the city and out. Even more shocking, he never complained once about the traffic or other drivers. If I had to place a bet, I’d say this man has more mysteries to him that the whereabouts of Noah’s Ark.

With the exception of the cocktail party, the remainder of my business schedules did not offer family accompaniment, which made me rather nervous when Saturday morning was quickly upon us. I was not nervous that my husband was off doing his own thing as I was so happy that he felt confident enough to go out and venture into the hustle of the Las Vegas Strip and I was so excited when he called me and told me that he had driven by the Pawn Stars Shop, which is a family favorite when watching television. He had remarked about both of us going back on Sunday to see inside, but knowing first had what a missed opportunity feels like I shared with him that this was a time just for him and he should go in so he could say “Hey everyone, I’ve been in that store” when it comes on television. I was ecstatic when I saw him later in the day and he told me all about it. So now I can say – “Hey everyone, my husband went into the Pawn Stars location where they film the show and he can tell you all about how some things are different than they appear. On Sunday he did take me, but the store didn’t open until nine, but I did get a picture of him outside. As much as I would have liked to have seen the inside, I wanted this to be his moment, his memory of something he did by himself. You could see in the twinkle of his eyes and his extra special smile - he was so proud, as was I. 

He had also gone to a huge gift shop that was another one of his - We have to go and see it places. We are the type of couple that where ever we go, we have to bring something back for someone. He was insistant that this was the place to find all those special treasures. I thought that maybe he was just excited about all the goodies that he had found - I was wrong. This place was as massive and as marvelous as he had explained.  I loved that place! He was so right! $95.00 later, we had gifts for family members so they could say they had their piece of Vegas too. One item that we found to be rather impressive, and we had seen on the move "The Hangover", the four foot drink cup with straw and strap. Only five bucks, but wasn't something we wanted to lug around in the airport, so instead I got another great picture to show friends and family that it wasn't just a movie prop. The drink cup really does exist.  If you get one with alcohol in it, there is ten shots in it. Finish one of these bad boys and your finished.  

So what was I really nervous about…that the business reasons for being  in Vegas would turn out to be nothing more than a big façade and that I was being scammed in some way to believe that "Pitch Fest Las Vegas" was going to make all my big dreams come true. I guess that happens when you have been lied to and burned so much in a life span; you tend to lose your ability to trust even the most honest words. I tend to create a worst case scenario in my head so that if it is that bad, I don’t get so upset.  Yes, I guess I over think things. Read my book and you’ll understand why.

The time had come. I was registered and dressed to kill. I was proud that I was wearing my little black dress and I had on the Diamond and Emerald Jewelry that my sweetie had purchased for me for Christmas. I will admit as we entered the doors to the party I was briefly star stuck and felt like we were a glamours couple coming to see our fans. Funny what our imaginations can do to our minds. It was then, as we held hands - it all began.

To be continue