Ilissa's

Finally, the jeep is at the port. We got up late this morning and took our time getting ready. Ilissa and Justin made us comfortable in a hundred thoughtful ways. We have a beautiful room to stay in, and our own bathroom. They also went out and got groceries for us. Things like my cereal and deli meats so we can make sandwiches. We were told to make ourselves comfortable, like it was our own home. She introduced herself as Auntie Lil to Baxter and Lucy and by the end of the night they were snuggled up next to her on the couch along with her cute pie Shitzu Molly.

Last night, our first night, Justin made a fantastic dinner; steak that had been marinated for 2 days in Stubb's Marinade, sauteed zucchini and yellow squash, scalloped potatoes and sauteed mushrooms and onions. Fantastic! I usually don't eat a whole steak, but I ate all of it! They bought a local red wine, we are in the Temeluca region, and Dan and I drank the entire bottle. After dinner we hung out, on the couch, in the garage, smoking and Dan and I drank another bottle of red - funny how much you can drink at sea level - and we talked the evening away, going to bed at 11.

Tuesday morning, Justin got up at 6, to start his day. Dan, Ilissa and I converging around 8:30. She works at home so we left her to her work and made the long drive back to Long Beach. The rain had stopped last night, so the drive was a lot quicker and a lot less tense. Dan dug out the car stereo and made my drive much easier. My buddy Tiffany gave me a Lady Gaga CD and she got us to Long Beach in style! We were there in 90 minutes and had to wait 45 minutes for the ship yard guy to call and give Dan the shipment number. Starving, we ate Pho for the first time. The spicy beef soup was delicious and warmed me up.

The rain started back up again and it was slow going on the way back. It is so saturated here that the roadways and highways are flooded in some areas. 

For dinner, Justin made spaghetti and meatballs. But these weren't just any spaghetti and meatballs! The sauce and meatballs were home made! I am in heaven, the meal, with salad and garlic bread is delicious. I prod about his sauce but he won't give me too many details!

We spent the evening playing the game Apples to Apples and went to bed at 11. I am so grateful to have such a fun, loving, thoughtful, beautiful, sweet friend like Ilissa, I'm glad we made time to visit before going to Kauai and I'm comforted that she has such a kind and loving husband.

Leaving Los Angeles

This morning we woke to cold rain and grey skies.



Today is going to be convoluted and involve a lot of driving. After getting breakfast at starbucks, we drive to San Fernando to drop off the boxes that need to be loaded on the boat. Our trusty, indenspensible, iPhones expertly guide us to the shipping yard. Turns out it's Martin Luther King day and when we scheduled, they were under different management and didn't have the holiday on the calendar. Someone has to come in and they load the truck in the rain.



Meanwhile, I give Baxter and Lucy some water and canned dog food which they gladly slurp up! They are done loading in 15 minutes. Having forgot about bike boxes, they wrap them up for us.




The port is closed today. The new plan is to drive down to long beach, pick up the rental car and drop off the U Haul then drive the rental car and the jeep to Ilissa's. We stop for lunch at a local Mexican joint, Pelayo's Burgers, off the Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, and get some tacos. Me; El Pastor, slow roasted spicy pork and Dan gets the carnitas, also slow roasted pork with different spices.



We pick up the car rental, and drop off the U Haul and drive to Ilissa's, 90 minutes away. At 12:30 we are on the road. It's pouring rain, thousands of raindrops stinging the windshield. I just keep my eyes focused on Dans tail lights. In silence (the stereo is packed) we drive. Lucy is on the back seat, sleeping. Baxter, in the passenger seat, looks out the window. I drive the most intense drive of my life. Completely out of my comfort zone, I fluxuate between adreline rushes and monotony. The drive is fast and wet puncuated with welcome traffic jams. Three hours later, we get to Ilissa's.

-- posted from my IPhone

Location:Glenoaks Blvd,San Fernando Valley,United States

A Day To Relax

It's kind of tricky since we can't leave the dogs unattended. I take a shower while Dan takes the dogs out. After his shower we walk the dogs 3 blocks down Hollywood Boulevard to starbucks.

We are supposed to meet my friend Mary today. When we get back, at 9am, I call her. No answer, I leave a message. We lay on the bed and watch Comedy Central. It's noon when  I wake up, we fell asleep! Mary hasn't called back. We decide to put the dogs in the jeep and look for something to eat. Just as we turn onto Hollywood Boulevard, Mary calls. She gives horse riding lessons on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
We decide to go to her house in Malibu and have lunch together.

Their home is beautiful, full of love and good cheer. Baxter is in love, there are 6 horses on the property and the space and smells send him into a state of pure bliss. The triplits, Julian, Evelyn and Eden are 17 months old. They vie for our attention by out doing each other in cuteness. First Julian rides the patient Laila, then Eden and finally, Evelyn. They are all willing to pose for a picture and love playing with Santa, who can't be put away. We get a tour of the house and property, it's drizzeling, so we all get wet and my hair gets really curly. Time runs out quickly and we have to leave.

The Front Entrance

The Guest House

The Man Cave

Julian

Eden

Evelyn and Laila

Inside the hotel room, we quickly change. No time to fix my hair we run to the Dresden to meet our friends for drinks and then Fred's for dinner. They've come from all over. Diana from Santa Monica, Dave;  Glendale, Scott, Emo and Emily live near by. Scott and Emily work on the show The Doctor's and Dr. Phil and my image of him is crushed. I guess he's a yeller and money monger. I still like his show though! 

Emily, Diana, Scott, Dan, Emo, and Dave

We get back to our hotel at 11 and take the dogs out. They are making a clear statement, "I would rather starve than eat this dry kibble", they haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon!

Dear Dad

Just talked to mom, she says you were dissapointed that there wasn't a blog post this morning. This is because there is no Internet at the hotel. I can post from my phone but I took pictures with the camera so I need the computer to post those. Don't worry we are doing great, going to put our stuff on a boat today and head up to Ilissa's, maybe she has WI-FI and I can post the details of the trip.

I love you mom and dad!

-- posted from my IPhone

Location:N McCadden Pl,Los Angeles,United States

Leaving Mesquite

What joy I feel at the sense of possibilities that await me. Also, I'm loving the fact that I don't know what is going to happen. I woke refreshed, our hotel room was nice; kitchenette, large bathroom, sitting room, king size bed, and a little patio. We took the dogs out and had a smoke. Mesquite is a dessert town about the size of Parker. It is a valley surrounded by high, craggy mountains, rust colored dirt and palm trees.



We get a free breakfast with our stay so we bring the dogs back to our room and go downstairs. Baxter immediately starts crying. We have to eat in shifts. He already feels like the truck is his home, jumping right in and bunkering down. It's 8am and we need some good coffee, our iPhone tells us where the Starbucks are, to no avail. Two, are in casinos and one hasn't opened yet. Frustrated, we hit the road.

We arrive in Las Vegas at 10, it's strip covered in a low lying poullition cloud. It's warm ish, a balmy 50 degrees. I think we have left the cold behind us. We stop and get a Starbucks and some gas. Back on the road we snack on some of mom's rum cake and I read our book aloud.

We enter California at 11, drive through the Mojave Dessert at noon. It's getting warmer, 58 degrees. At 12:30, we stop in Baker for "the best gyros in the world" at the "world famous" Mad Greek Cafe. The gyros are the best I've ever had, Dan says he's had better but these were excellent. We feed the dogs and, back in the car I give Lucy a drink.



Arriving in Hollywood at 5pm, our trip gets frustrating. We are in a city that doesn't have much space, driving a large U Haul truck and trailer with a hotel clerk who doesn't want to work. The parking lot he reccomends is covered and we can't fit. We decide to try and ditch the trailer, I'll drive the jeep, Dan the U Haul truck. We have to drive to the U Haul in Van Nuys. 24 miles and 90 minutes later we are back to the hotel looking for a place to park the U Haul truck. An hour later, one person is willing to let us park over night, if we are willing to pay for it, which, at this point, we'll pay anything! Finally, 3 hours after we got to our hotel, I get to rest. I take a shower and unpack while Dan tries to find a place to park the jeep over night and bring back some dinner. We can't leave the dogs unattended in this dump. Nothing like last nights hotel, this is small, no WI-FI, the remote doesn't work, there is no Kleenex, shampoo, or lotion which is a bummer since that stuff is in the truck.

Dan and I don't care for LA or Hollywood. The drivers are aggressive, getting into your lane dispite the fact that you're not letting them in (I'm trying to follow Dan). The people cross the street while tapping away on their phones or just looking at something else, oblivious either way. Too much noise and too many people. Of course we are extremely cranky and that may have some bearing on our opinion, but still!

Dan comes back 30 minutes later with burritos. We eat them, walk the dogs and get the shampoo from the truck. It's 9:30 and I'm ready for bed!

Dan has done an excellent job of safely manuvering the truck and and trailer, driving 26 hours in the last 2 days. His legs and back are stiff and crampy. But, he still manages to be in a decent mood, the food and bed helping him get there.

-- posted from my IPhone

Location:Falcon Ridge Pkwy,Mesquite,United States

Today Is The Day!

This morning I wake up at 4:22, ready for the day. I decided I'd catch up on my blog. Luckily, someone in the neighbourhood has not locked their Wi-Fi. At 5:50, I take the dogs out and have a smoke. The early morning has not turned to light and I can see my breath in white clouds against the black of night. Cold, I go inside to clean up while Baxter wakes Dan and dad. Mom makes us more Spanish coffee, grapefruit that she sliced for us, and breakfast burritos.

The goodbyes are hard. I'm 43 years old and leaving home for the first time. Dad barely gets out the words "vio con dios" and walks away. Mom, tears streaming down her face, gives me a hug and is right behind him. Julie calls and cheers me up, refocusing me and reminding me why I am doing this. Uncle AK comforts me saying mom and dad left everything the knew at one time too.

We are heading down I-70 and it's pretty cozy. 

Passing under the bridge that perfectly frames the mountains, I think of dad. When he and I would head up to hike or cross country ski, he'd always let out a heartfelt wooohooo! This signifies the entrance into the Rocky Mountains.

The dogs have finally settled down, I think the doggie downers and the excitement have finally taken effect.

We pass Copper Mountain. Dan and I met at the base 14 years ago, this past November.

After getting some gas in Vail we make a bed for Lucy on the floor of the truck, she loves it.

The dogs enjoy the trip, sensing that we are all in this together, we eat, drink and ride. Where we go one, we go all!

The radio stations won't tune in so I read Merle's Door: Lessons From a Freethinking Dog, aloud. At 9:40, 14 hours after we left, we arrive at the hotel in Mesquite, Nevada.

Mom and Dad

Thank you.

Thank you for letting us stay with you our last few days here.

Thank you for all the wonderful meals made with love.

Thank you for your graceful acceptance of our choice.

Thank you for your support, despite how you feel about it.

Thank you for your curiosity about our new lives.

Thank you for the easy conversations.

Thank you for doing what you can to help us be on our way.

Thank you for taking such good care of us and the dogs.

Thank you for your warm and thoughtful love.

We appreciate you.