San Diego

We headed south to San Diego for a long weekend a few weeks ago.  We stayed at Coronado Island and it was WONDERFUL!!  We went to Sea World, saw the Dallas Cowboy play San Diego Charger game and just went around to different beaches in the area.

Our hotel was right on the beach in Coronado and we would walk the beach every morning and on the last day we went Sand Dollar hunting and it was so much fun!  We found a total of 5 full Sand Dollars and they are totally different from the ones in Texas...the ones here are black and purple.

Sea World

Dallas Cowboy Game

La Jolla 

Point Loma

Every morning I would wake up and head right outside to this table and enjoy a few hours to on the beach...It was very relaxing!

Dallas Cowboys Arrive!!!

Dallas Cowboys have their training camp here in Oxnard, CA.  They arrived here at Point Mugu and signed a few autographs before heading to their hotel.  I was able to take a few shots with some of the players!

Kelly and Miles Austin (#19)

Kelly and Sam Hurd

Kelly and Marty B. (#80) Fellow Aggie!

Landscaping

Ron and I have been working on our backyard...trying to make it nice and pretty to enjoy!  We got patio furniture, flowers everywhere and we turned this old grill into a planter!  This was the most fun we had during our landscaping work.

Training for Disneyland Half Marathon

Almost 10 months ago I decided I wanted to train for the Disneyland Half Marathon - Aug 31, 2008.  I got a running coach and he planned out a schedule for me.  I was to start training 12 weeks before the race....but as my friends found out I was going to do the Disneyland Half Marathon, out the window the training plan went and now I have 10 additional friends going to do the marathon with me.  

We started training towards the end of April and have changed our schedule a few times to meet the demand of running on our body, but we have finally figured it out and have been going strong for the last few months.

Ron came out on our 9 mile run and took some pictures and that is what is below, but we are up to 10.5 miles now and going strong.  Our 9 mile run took about 1 hour 55 minutes, so we are right on track to meet our goal!

Kelly, Shandra, Debra and Dee

Note:  This is the first time ANY of us will be ahead of Dee...She is our fastest runner and just stopped for a bathroom break and is getting ready to pass us again!

Lisa 30th Birthday

My friend Lisa turned 30 a couple of weeks ago and we had the pleasure of going to her garden birthday party.  It was such a beautiful day and the party was so much fun!

Happy Birthday Lisa!  

VAW 112 - Change of Command

Went to my first ever Change of Command. A Change of Command ceremony is unique to the US Naval Service whereby complete responisility, authority, and accountability are transferred from one leader to another.

Holloman AFB, New Mexico

Here are just some random pictures of when I was TDY in Holloman AFB, New Mexico.  The only thing I didn't get a picture of was the Transform 2 picture that was being filmed on base!

Guys I went on travel with:

Geoff, Blair, Kelly, Brian and Thai

All of us at dinner:

Robert, Blair, Kelly and Geoff

This is some Southwest Mexican Food.  That on the left is a green chili something...It is a green chile that has cheese in it...it was so good!

Me in front of the 117 - It has been retired now.

On the long drive back to El Paso from Alamogordo!

White Sands - New Mexico

This past week I went TDY to Holloman AFB, New Mexico.  There is not much to do in this town, but it is home to the White Sands National Park.  

Here I was trying to slide down!  Didn't work to well without a board.

On top of the Sand Hill....THIS CLIMB WAS NO JOKE!

This is at the top...The sand went on what seem like forever!  Oh yea, the temperature was like 100 degrees, but the sand was COLD!

HOUSTON'S - 2 Down...18 More to Go!

As many of you know by now GQ came out with a list of 20 Best Burgers to try before you die.  Since I LOVE burgers and I am always looking for adventures to try, I started on this one.  My first stop was at #15 The Counter in Santa Monica.  Since then I have now went and tried # 6 Houston's.  This place was good!  I got the California Burger which came with fires.  The service there was GREAT!  Our burgers took longer than normal to make, so they offered us dip to have while we waited.  I would so recommend this place to anyone!

Cost:  Meal for 1 $21.50 (drink, hamburger, fries and tip)

Parking:  Free for first 3  hours

Wait:  10 minutes

Service:  Great!  People are very friendly.

Ackee Bamboo

We ventured into LA to try a local Jamaican Restaurant called Ackee Bamboo. Ackee is located in one of the most prized, historically cultured areas of LA, Leimert Park. Leimert has been a hotbed for Los Angeles Jazz and Black culture for decades. Ron had the Curry Goat which has to be the best Curry Goat I have ever tried...It was the best Curry anything I have ever had. I had Ackee and Salt Fish. It was amazing!!

Ackee & Salt Fish

We also got some Beef Patties to go...However, they didn't last long in our house...lol. I can't wait go back!

Beef Patty

Women's Retreat

This past weekend Cora, Kim, Lisa, Nikki and myself all went to a retreat! The theme was 'Beautiful One'. We had a great time! Here are a few pictures.

San Francisco

I'esha company took all the top account executives on a trip to San Francisco. She was able to bring a guest with her and she picked me! We arrived on Wed, April 2 and left Sun, April 6. We had a great time and the trip was AMAZING! We stayed in Nob Hill at the Fairmont Hotel. The company had several planned events; Welcome Dinner, Business Meeting/Breakfast, Scavenger Hunt, Hosted Dinner, Day Tour - Alcatraz, and a Farewell Dinner - Sonoma Winery.

Day 1: Arrived in San Francisco and I'esha was not expected to arrive until around 11PM...So, I hit the city. I walked for HOURS and loved it! I went to Union Square, China Town and Embarcadero. I grabbed some fruit from the local produce stand in China Town to have for the rest of the week.

Day 2: This was the start of a fun filled week. We went downstairs for breakfast and then I hit the gym for a good morning workout while I'esha headed to her Business Meeting. Here they gave us the information we need to get with our teams for the Scavenger Hunt. The Scavenger Hunt took us ALL over San Fran. It was like Amazing Race we had to figure the clues out and run around the city. At each place we went had someone there with another clue until the very end. 1st Stop: Union Square. 2nd Stop: China Town. 3rd Stop: Ferry Building. 4th Stop: Pier 39. 5th and Final Stop: Buena Vista Pub - the birth place of the Irish Coffee in San Fran. Our team WON!!! We actually got to Buena Vista about 30 minutes before the 2nd place team...So, we actually enjoyed several drinks! We had smart people....Fast Runners....And people willing to pay off taxi drivers for rides...lol. It was a lot of fun!

Winning Team!

After the Scavenger Hunt the group headed down Fisherman Wharf to have lunch at Cioppino's. I had a bread bowl of Claim Chowder...OMGoodness! It was the best! Later that night we went to the Penthouse for Cocktail Hour and then to Le Amis for dinner. The food here was amazing. There was this one waiter that his only job the entire night was to keep our wine glasses full...I called him Trashman. His job that night was to make sure we all got trashed...lol. The restaurant is a small cozy environment and the wine selection was great!

Penthouse Cocktail Party

Day 3: By the 3rd day, I was in love with the city! I have been walking/running around the town for hours each day and just love the fast pace environment. Today's activity was to go to Alcatraz and then visit Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.

View of City from Alcatraz

Cell in Alcatraz

Sea Lions at Pier 39

Boarding Trolley at Fisherman Wharf

View of Street From Back of the Trolley going to Hotel

Day 4: This day was devoted to China Town and the Farewell Dinner. Walked China Town most of the day. Went into several little shops. Went to a tea tasting at Blest Teas ...That was a very interesting experience. I ended up buying several teas and they are really good! I got a fruit tea and a rose tea. China town was very exciting and I enjoyed it so much...The food was great, the tea was great and just the overall atmosphere was exciting. It was almost like I was back in Hawaii!

Street Fair in China Town

Farewell Dinner was at Viansa Winery. This was a four course meal with wine of course! The dessert wine was by far my favorite wine of the night, Frescolina. It is a true dessert wine with aromas of fresh cut honeysuckle and orange blossoms. I think I drank a whole bottle by myself! After the dinner was over we all decided to go and have one last drink at the Tango Room before we left the next day.

Overall this trip was fun and I had a great time. If you ever get a chance to go to San Fran, check out some of the places I went to. I think you will enjoy them as much as I did.

8 Years and Counting.....

Ron and I celebrated our 8th year married this week. It is hard to believe that we have been married for 8 years...WOW! In these eight years we have many great experiences and lived in several wonderful places. I can only imagine what the next 8 years holds for us!

Scottsdale, AZ

Superstition Mountain

Mom and I headed to Scottsdale Arizona for our Spring 2008 Mother-Daughter bonding trip. We stayed at the Camelback Inn, JW Marriott Resort and Spa. When we arrived in Phoenix, we headed straight for the resort. Checked in and went straight to bed...Oh, did I tell you we arrived at 12 midnight! Got up early the next day and went shopping for the day! The next day, decided to head to Apache Trail to an old Ghost Town. This Ghost Town was pack and fun to be in. Contiuned driving on Hightway 88 and saw some of the most beautiful mountains!

Goldfield Ghost Town

The cactus was cool to look at. Learned that if these BIG cactus take at least 75 years to grow their arms, therefore, if you see one with a lot of arms...it is really old.

Apatch Trail

Apatch Trail

Apatch Trail...hmmm...Yes, I hiked with my Coach Bag this day!

Mom had never hiked a mountain before, so we hiked Mummy Mountain on our last day there! She was funny, but made it all the way around the hiking trail. I was really impressed with her!

Mom's idea of hiking...Talking on cell phone!

Finally dressed for hiking...kinda of!
Mom after she finished Mummy Mountain

We also enjoyed a relaxing day at the Spa their...Oh, the spa was amazing. Has to be one of the best spa's I have ever been to. If you are ever in the area or wanting a much needed get away, I suggest this resort and spa!