Corn Palace...A-Maizing

Monday, September 25, 2006
Mitchell, South Dakota

This page will be updated shortly...we are a little behind due to a lack of internet accessibility on the road.

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Mt. Rushmore

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Mt. Rushmore

This page will be updated shortly...we are a little behind due to a lack of internet accessibility on the road.

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Rosh Hashanah at Bubba's

Saturday, September 23, 2006
Cody, Wyoming

Rosh Hashanah at Bubba's

Since we couldn't find gefilte fish and luxen kugel to celebrate the New Year, we settled for Bubba's Bar-B-Que! Real cowboy hospitality and finger looking racks of BBQ ribs and crispy skinned chicken.

Yellowstone National Park

Saturday, September 18 & 23, 2006

Yes...we are actually this close to a Buffalo!

This page will be updated shortly...due to difficulty with Internet hookup we are slightly behind.

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Jackson Hole...aka The Jac

Saturday, September 16-22, 2006

This page will be updated shortly...due to difficulty with Internet hookup we are slightly behind.

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Hoodoo You Love?

Bryce Canyon, Utah
Friday, September 15, 2006

OK, Zion is cool, but Bryce Canyon is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! Everything seemed unbelievable today, including th that the temperature this morning registered 95 degrees and by nightfall it was just barely 50 degrees. When the elevation gets near 10,000 feet above sea level, 50 degrees seems sooo much colder! We didn't think it could get better than Zion, but we had a sneaking suspicion, based on all those who urged us to see Bryce, that Bryce just might be more fabulous.

The pièce de résistance of this 37-mile round-trip drive are the Hoodoos which are thousands of delicately carved spires that rise in brilliant color from the amphitheaters of Bryce. Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched the pink cliffs. Doesn't seem fair that when my face is exposed to the elements that it only gets craggier! The Hoodoos got their name because for hundred of years, the Blackfoot Indians believed that this amazing place was sacred and the home of spirits.

Zion

Utah

September 14- September 16, 2006

After Las Vegas we were free to roam and that's just what we did. Next Stop YEWTAH!!!! We continued on Route 15 crossing briefly through Arizona and just under three hours we found ourselves in Utah's famous Zion National Park. However, we arrived a tad too late to enter Zion so we found the closest town to catch 40 winks. The only negative about this area was the lack of Roadfood recommendations so we had to settle for one of the way too many fast food chains that dot our highways. We selected the TravelLodge because it provided a "Continental" Breakfast, but when Tom saw the meager offerings, he questioned what Continent the hotel owners could possibly be from...

Zion (ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary) Canyon consists of amazing formations of reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone which towered 2,000 to 3,000 feet above our car. The landscape of unmatched beauty and diversity encompasses some 150,000 acres. The sites are endless, however the highlights include a spectacular gorge, the The Narrows, with walls 100 feet wide and 1000 tall, the multicolored Kolob Canyons, which includes the world's largest arch - Kolob Arch - with a span that measures 310 feet, and the Checkerboard Mesa.

We waited in line to pass through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (when it was built in the early 1930s, it was the longest of its type in the world). Note the picture of our tiny BMW compared to the SUV...we really miss the Blazer). The difference about waiting in line to go through a tunnel in Zion versus, say, a tunnel in any city in the USA, is that all the drivers get out for a stretch and enjoy profound conversations about their travels sharing their thoughts on the best routes, tips, and sites to take in.

Zion was discovered by Mormons in 1858 (remember this is UTAH), but was established as a National Park in 1909.

Blue Man Group

Las Vegas, Nevada

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Thanks to my wonderful Godhusband Jim (not to be confused with fiance...you see, Jim is my Godhusband because he is the Godfather to my Godsons Connor and Jimmy, sons of Jim's sister Dorian, my best friend, and Mitch. Confused? Don't worry, so is everyone else).

Anyway, thanks to my well connected Godhusband, we were dazzled and delighted by the performance of the Blue Man Group, especially with near front row seats. Although Thea had seen them perform at the Luxor when she came with her family five years ago, she was impressed with the changes to the show and now they were at the Venetian which is a much better venue. Thank you dear Godhusband!

September 11th

September 11, 2005

This page is devoted to all those who lost their lives and to those who lost their loved ones on September 11, 2001. Today is the five year anniversary and not a moment goes by when I don't think of my friends that lost their lives at The World Trade Center and American Flight 77 on that dreadful day.

Ted Luckett

Doug Cherry

Barbara Olson
Mark Schurmeier

Viva Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

September 9 - September 14, 2006

Arriving into the cacophony of Las Vegas after the serenity of Newport Beach took a bit getting used to. Since the cardiology symposium Tom was covering was at the Bellagio, we were delighted to learn that our accommodations were there as well, especially since the meetings started at 7 a.m.

The Bellagio is known for its dancing fountains set to music, grandiose swimming pools, famous restaurants (Cirque, Prime and Michael Mina), as well as Cirque de Soleil's water extravaganza "O". Our first night in Vegas we settled on the more casual restaurant Fix because Thea had read about their chicken wings. We shared a batch of wings, some fries and a beer and $30 later were quite disappointed. However, in all fairness, we believe no other wings will ever compare to Clyde's in DC.

We walked the strip through Paris, Monte Carlo, New York, and Venice. Who knew you could be in so many cities in one night!

We owe a big thanks to Tom's Mom for rummaging through the boxes in her basement to find and then ship Tom attire appropriate for the conference. Remember, we are still using the clothes from the one suitcase we packed back in July.

Since I'm not a gambler and it was too hot to laze around the pool (well, one day maybe) and shopping was not an option as our car was filled to the sunroof, I was thrilled to find I could sit in on the conference. I sat in awe as dozens of the world's top cardiovascular surgeons discussed break through procedures for heart surgery in addition to the technical and moral significance of it all. The FDA spoke to the difficulty of getting new technology passed and surgeons performed live surgeries via satellite form top hospitals around North America. I normally flinch at the sight of a scrape on the knee but I was entranced as I viewed these doctors perform life saving surgeries as they do each and every day.

Hasta La Vista California

Corona Del Mar
Saturday, September 9, 2006

As our days came to a close in charming Newport Beach, we came to a few conclusions and that was mostly that we weren't cut out for LA. More so than ever we realized that open space and short commutes were always going to be on our priority list in order for us to call a place home. We might not have spent as much time as we should have exploring the West Coast, but we also decided to take the freedom that we had at this moment of being completely unencumbered (no rent, utilities or houseplants) to continue exploring the USA.

For the past several months Tom (who graduated from college pre-med way back when), has been assisting with medical research for a start-up Internet company called cvPipeline.com. This new online database solution keeps up to date with emerging products and companies in the fast changing CardioVascular (CV) market. As it turned out Tom was asked to cover the largest cardiovascular conferences in Las Vegas right at the time we were set to leave Newport Beach. The timing was perfect.

Knowing we were going to travel more, we realized that Tom's good Ol' Chevy Blazer, as great as it was getting us out west, was just not going to make the 4,000+ miles we planned to travel. So, sadly we sold it to a local dealer. Of course, we then realized that all that we arrived with in California two months earlier was not going to fit into my BMW. We found ourselves once again purging stuff from our lives and packing more boxes to ship back to Tom's Mom's basement.

We took a final tour of the neighborhood that we had called home the past two months, packed up our car, and headed north east on Route 15 for Las Vegas.

Sharon Returns Home

Corona Del Mar

September 1-September 8, 2006

The first week of September brought Sharon back to her home in Corona Del Mar (CDM) after a long recovery from her accident in Connecticut. We were delighted to see her looking so great. We stayed on an additional week to assist in her transition back to California and fill her in on what happened in Newport Beach during her absence (mostly it was that Time Warner took over Comcast as the cable provider!). Sharon gave us the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and Thea was able pay it forward by helping Sharon blow dry her hair, as so many had helped Thea during her hip recovery.

We spent one last day in LA, checking for the final time on our Hollywood house and playing with our friend Sheri who took us to the annual Labor Day Fiesta Hermosa. Thousands flock to the Pier of this picture perfect town of Hermosa Beach to pick up a trinket or craft from the hundreds of artisans selling their wares, gorge on really good grub from the bountiful food stands (we tried 12-inch long spicy sausages, grilled corn on the cob, Italian ice, popcorn, and god knows what else (do I hear Plop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz?) and listen to excellent music. We caught a great Jimi Hendrix tribute band that would have made the real guitar genius proud. We've always loved attending festivals (Taste Of Bethesda, Adams Morgan Day back in DC) but the biggest difference between the ones we've been to vs Hermosa...the lack of clothing. Thong bikinis were the norm on rollerblading California girls! We figure we walked off the chow from meandering some seven solid miles between Manhattan and Hermosa Beach and back again. The landscape appeared so different to me than it did 14 yeas ago when I first visited Sheri. It seems to be the norm to tear down and rebuild bigger homes in California. It's as if home owners are keeping up with the ebb and flow of the ocean, the landscape of the homes changes as quickly as the changing tides.

Another night during Labor Day weekend, Thea visited again with her cousin Jaymes, this time at Mosun, a hip Japanese restaurant (which transforms into an uber hip nightclub after hours) in Laguna Beach. Jaymes, her friend Lori, and I had a great girls night out...that was until we found out that Lori's brand spanking new Lexus was towed from the parking space. (Note to readers, don't park at a grocery store parking lot if not food shopping!). So we spent the wee hours of the night navigating the windy Laguna Beach roads to the towing lot where we had the rather nasty experience of retrieving her car.

While Thea was out with her cousin, Tom and Sharon dined with Sharon's good friends at their magnificent house in Huntington Beach. Tom was delighted to find that her friend happened to be the inventor of his all time favorite gadget, the Z' fogless shower mirror (and the one inanimate item he has missed most on our trip).

For our final night, Klaus, Sharon's beau, crafted a farewell dinner that still has us licking our lips. They invited their neighbors Pam and Mark (who adopted us during our stay in CDM, not to mention lent us their Boogie Boards) and we feasted on appetizers of stuffed mushroom caps followed by a plate that would intimidate any professional chef. The center piece was an amazing beef roulade, and due to Thea's disdain for bleu cheese, Klaus was kind enough to accommodate her by making German Roulade (made without bleu cheese) as well as the Italian version (with bleu) for everyone else. Broccoli, potatoes, and perfectly cooked red cabbage (the only one comparable to Thea's Mom's) painted the plate with color and wonderful flavor. Dessert consisted of a cleansing sorbet and exotic cheese plate which ensured we were sated.

Our parting gift from Klaus was a batch of homemade Biscotti...Shear heaven!

Tanked

August 31, 2006

They say that the Dog Days of Summer are in August. So in honor of this saying, we have pictured Tank on this last day of August.

Tank's owner is one of Thea's best friends from college who also happens to be the owner of a prestigious law firm in Florida. Yes, Tank is one handsome canine, but it is the humorous musings of his two-legged Mom that continues to be one of the reasons I cherish her as a friend. I have copied her email to me below, I'll keep her name anonymous so as not to let her everyone know she's a little loco!

"Thea, I have attached some pictures of Tank (my baby). Maybe he could make the blog? You could pretend you ran into him in LA - he is a rising star, you know. Tank has had his photo in Water’s Edge magazine, and recently won the “dog days of summer” photo contest in the Jacksonville local paper! Chris says I’m “obsessed.” I always wanted to be a Hollywood “mom” – he is my ticket!"

Loco for Tacos

Laguna Beach, CA

August 26, 2006

Although just six miles south of Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach offers a completely different scene. This active town and tourist destination is also a well known artist community. Laguna showcases various artistic festivities throughout the year including the summer long Festival of the Arts, staged in a six-acre canyon park near the ocean. A tradition since 1932, more than 140 juried artists exhibit and sell every medium imaginalable.

During this arts festival Pageant of the Masters is one of the hottest tickets in town. Performed in an outdoor amphitheater with an orchestra it’s ninety minutes of "living pictures" - where artists are faithful to re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.

Since we weren't able to nab tickets (they sell out six months in advance), we navigated among the crowds and strolled among the unique galleries (our favorite was Xanadu where everythign from vases, flowers, paintbrushes and exotic animals are carved out of tropical wood and painted), boutiques, and local eateries. Both Tom and I had been there before (me with my Mum last year) so were able to show each other our favorites finds. However, together we discovered Taco Loco, a great hole-in-the wall taco stand. This is not your average taco stand! All of the tables out front--and the Paul Frank stools (a Newport Beach artist) inside--are filled with just-off-the-beach surfers, just-woken-up stoners, and in-the-know locals. The dreadlocked counter guy might interrupt your ordering to sing along with the radio, but he'll be right back with a smile to ask if you want hot salsa on your mahi mahi, spicy lobster, mushroom, tofu, blackened potato, or blackened calamari tacos. Yup! healthy, weird, and delicious.

We walked off our lunch along part of the seven mile beach that makes this OC (Ocean County to those as clueless as I was) paradise worthy of its own TV series. We particularly enjoyed watching the local dudes and dudettes shooting a couple rounds of hoops.

Go Fly a Kite

San Juan Capistrano

Friday, August 25, 2006

San Juan Capistrano, known for its 236-year-old Mission, is a charming village just 20 minutes south of Newport Beach. It's also where my (Thea's) mom's brother lives, my Uncle Bob. Hazel & I visited Bob last year when we visited California, which was the first time in 40+ years that we'd seen him, so it was great fun to catch up with him again so soon. In fact, it was almost a year exactly, which seemed rather fitting since Capistrano is most famous for the annual Return of the Swallows.

I drove the beautiful coast line of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH to the locals) and arrived at Uncle Bobs just in time to be his sous chef and assist in making fabulous chicken quesadillas. Uncle Bob even had a handy dandy quesadilla maker (kind of like a waffle iron but leaves perfect pie-shaped markings!). It was, as usual a perfect day in sunny Southern California and the back porch with the lemon trees in view was the ideal location to enjoy la comida.

After lunch, I thought my uncle told me to go fly a kite...well, he did, literally! He unraveled two colorful gliders with purple, red and yellow tails while asking me when the last time was that I flew a kite. It was 1968. So, the two us stepped outside behind his house along a bike path and spent the rest of our visit flying kites. It was great. I can only tell those reading this, go fly as kite...as soon as you can. You'll thank me, or maybe you should thank my Uncle Bob! Thanks Bob!

Thea's Favorite Things

Newport Beach
Mid August

There aren't many posts for August because we truly enjoyed just hangin' out. I can't remember when I had more than 10 days off, except for the unplanned broken hip era, and I can't say I enjoyed that very much.

However, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a beach bunny/bum. I joined a local health club for a six week membership in order to keep up with my Pilates (I encourage anyone with lower back issues to embrace Pilates). I've also enjoyed walking, whether to the beach to hear the barking seals or around the neighborhood to inhale the heavenly flowers.

I have also had great fun diving into books and challenging myself with Sudoku these past few weeks. The books I've enjoyed the past month and highly recommend are...

Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith- The inimitable Tom Ripley finds his complacency shaken when he is scorned at a posh gala. While an ordinary psychopath might repay the insult with some mild act of retribution, what Ripley has in mind is far more subtle, and infinitely more sinister. A social slight doesn't warrant murder of course--just a chain of events that may lead to it.

One Thousand White Women, the Journals of May Todd by Jim Fergus-A western with a most unusual twist, an imaginative fictional account of the controversial "Brides for Indians" program, a clandestine U.S. government-sponsored program intended to instruct "savages" in the ways of civilization. May's personal journals describe the adventures of some very colorful brides, their marriages to Cheyenne warriors, and the natural abundance of life on the prairie. I devoured this book as I am still completely overwhelmed with the thought as to how the pioneers traversed the diverse terrain of the Unites States.

In Her Defense by Stephen Horn is a sharply funny and ironic legal thriller with a seemingly unwinnable case, mysterious forces conspiring against the attorney and his client, and a tumblingly relentless pace. I enjoyed it mostly for the setting, Washington, DC. I actually felt a few pulls on my heart as I read mentions about Georgetown and Chevy Chase. I found it fascinating that the hero needed to turn his life upside down in order to find his happiness...hmmmmm.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani reminds me of one of my favorite people, a fabulous woman of Italian decent raised in West Virginia. The novel concerns the family scandals that befall Ave Maria in the seemingly uneventful town of Big Stone Gap, WVA. Greed, lust, envy--all the ancient emotional elements--manifest themselves even in this hamlet of "ordinary folk." Fans of Fannie Flagg or Rebecca Wells will enjoy this down-home tale, full of small, everyday details and colloquial revelations.

My next read is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho...I'll fill you in in a few days...

My other "waste of time" enjoyment has been conquering Sudoku. I think I'm great now that I've mastered the "moderate levels" in the LA Times. I've gotten cocky enough that I bought an entire book of Sudoku puzzles. I'm sure to be beaten down in no time!

And my other recommendation? Watch your honey relaxing on the beach and play in the waves as often as you can.

Idol-ized

Santa Monica, CA

Friday, August 18, 2006

As much as we weren't looking forward to the traffic in LA, we had a full day planned. First, we checked out the estate sale at our "Hollywood Hills" home and then cruised over to tony West Hollywood to visit our friend Jason. A recent transplant from DC, Jason and his sister own one of the hottest lingerie boutiques in Georgetown called Jaryam, so it's no wonder he's already succeeded with Le Bra, a West Coast version in LA.

I drooled over the Swarovski crystal-studded thong an bra set! But mostly we delighted in congratulating Jason on the accolades recently bestowed on his sexy shop. Women's Wear Daily listed Le Bra as one of only six lingerie boutiques worth visiting in THE WORLD!


We wanted to linger, but we had a lunch date in Santa Monica with Jaymes Foster, Thea's cousin. A talented music producer, Jaymes works with a lot of exciting musical artists. When we arrived to pick her up we had the pleasure of meeting Clay Aiken; the two collaborated on Clay's just completed new album-debuting September 19, and already pre-sold in record numbers! After friendly banter we cruised Montana Avenue peeking into the one-of-a-kind shops and caught up over a healthy lunch at Blue Plate. Small World Story: Jaymes asked Tom if he had been to LA before, he said yes, years ago to hang with his buddies after graduating American University. When he mentioned the name of one of his old pals Rob Morton, Jaymes gasped as it's Rob's wife who owns Blue Plate! Unfortunately, neither Rob nor his wife were at the restaurant, but how one degree of separation is that? We also learned that Jayme's newest gig is producing the debut album for the 11-year old wunderkid talent, Bianca Ryan, the winner of yet another idol-ized show, "America's Got Talent." Look for a late September recording.

We had a long day and spoke to more people than we have in weeks so we were ready to brave the traffic south to our oasis in Newport Beach. It was a wonderful day.

Yo Quiero La Comida

LA & Newport Beach

Early August

We have loved cooking-in most nights—large salads brimming with the superior fresh produce available to us from Trader Joe's (the stores here seem larger here than back East), tuna, salmon, potstickers, and the Two Buck Chuck Trader Joe's wine, isn't bad either! We did venture out for a few nights, but not to the quintessential Newport Beach cafés...instead we shamelessly enjoyed some of the local and national chains.

At the very fashionable Fashion Island—Newport's swanky outdoor shopping mall and multiplex cinema (where we saw Woody Allen's "Scoop"...don't bother!)—we gorged on California's famous FatBurger whose slogan is "The Last Great Hamburger Stand" and it was Great! Another joint that tempted our discerning burger tastebuds was the In-N-Out Burger, known for being California's first drive-thru hamburger stand. We were not as impressed, although we are going to give them another chance!

One Sunday afternoon, we ventured up to LA to look in on the Hollywood house and to meet with our friend Sheri. We were delighted when she commandeered us to a Caribbean oasis called Cha Cha Cha for brunch. With locations in Silver Lake and West Hollywood we had, by far, the best Jerk Chicken Cesear Salad we ever tasted, thanks to Sheri's recommendation.

And last but not least, and even though we might be slightly embarrassed to admit it, we have found ourselves chanting "Yo Quiero Taco Bell." But it isn't just any item that cause us to croon, it's the Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme—a huge soft flour tortilla bursting with spicy chicken (which we preferred over the beef), nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and a crunchy tostada shel—for just $1.89. In fact, all of our dining options were well within our budget!

We also discovered that California has more donut stores per-square-mile than any other place on the planet. We are absolutely convinced of that.

Ripper

Rancho Palos Verdes

Friday, August 4, 2006

We've been enjoying each others company exclusively, but we were really looking forward to this evening as we were going to visit Thea's college friend Doug Van Riper (aka Ripper) and his lovely wife Jan and two adorable daughters Michelle and Heather. They live in Rancho Palos Verdes (known to locals as PV) which is is a quiet, affluent suburb of Los Angeles about an hour north of Newport Beach. Sitting atop the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, PV is well known for its spectacular views of the Pacific and Catalina Island, but its most notorious geographic feature is the continuous landslide at Portuguese Bend. Houses literally are built on wheels to go with the flow.

When Doug said we were going to the Beach Club for dinner, we had no idea how spectacular it would be. The "club" is simply one of the most pristine stretches of beach we have ever seen and there isn't any club house- just fire pits, picnic tables, and palapas (palm-thatched umbrellas and our new word for the day!). In California, hardly any shoreline is allowed to be privatized (which makes owners of the million dollar homes in places like Malibu particularly irate), but this little stretch is in fact private and with only 100+ members it's even more exclusive. Jan and the girls had the routine down perfectly...within minutes cotton tablecloths, non-breakable wine glasses, napkins, salad fixings and sushi appeared. Doug had the fire pit stoked to cook the chicken and the bottle of wine was uncorked this is also one of the only places you can drink on the beach:-). As we watched the massive orange sun set on the ocean and then later the moonbeams dancing on the waves, we felt like we could have been in Greece or the Turks & Caicos. It was totally awesome. The perfect finish to the evening was roasting S'mores on the glowing embers.

We also learned about two other landmarks of Rancho Palos Verdes-the Trump National Golf Course at Ocean Trails a somewhat ill-starred golf development at first (the course made national news when the three holes slid into the ocean in 1999) but in January 2006, it opened with 18 holes and a name change after Donald Trump invested millions building up the property and unfortunately gilding everything he touched. The locals are surprised he didn't gold leaf the greens.

Another landmark, the Point Vicente Lighthouse, built in 1926, is famous for ghost stories told of a mysterious woman in white who supposedly committed suicide while waiting for her husband to return from an ocean voyage, and who still keeps her ghostly vigil to this day.

Full Disclosure: This photo of Doug, Michelle and Heather was taken last year when my Mum and I visited them at their house, but I forgot to bring my camera to the beach this time. The only difference is that Doug no longer has a mustache, after some 25 years!

Jake

Los Angeles, California
Saturday,
July 22, 2006

Only one thing could drag us away from beautiful Newport Beach...and that would be the one and only Jake, Tom's nephew. Jake was part of a fabulous teen cross country summer tour (Rein Teen Tours). We knew that we were all going to be in LA at the same time and we had permission to steal him away for the day. We set our alarm and drove the hour and half to the UCLA dorms where his tour was staying. Our day started at Pink's, Hollywood's famous hot dog stand. Tom has been talking about Pink's since we left DC, and even though it was only 10:30 a.m., we were all looking forward to hot dogs for breakfast.

Paul Pink started with a large-wheeled pushcart vending his hot dogs at the corner of La Brea and Melrose in 1939. The depression was on and money was scarce. Pink's chili dogs, complete with a large warm bun, oversized hot dog, mustard, onions and thick chili sold for 10 cents each. His hot dog wagon was located in "the country", rolling hills of weeds and open spaces. That was sixty-five years ago!

Times have changed, but not Pink's. Oh, in 1946 Paul Pink did trade his hot dog wagon in for a small building (constructed on the very same spot where the wagon stood). But the stand hasn't changed since those days. Today, Pink's chili dogs sell for $2.50 each (with inflation and the shrinking dollar, they are a better bargain now than in 1939!). Pink's still gives that very same quality now as then...mouth-watering chili, generously topping an all-beef hot dog with mustard and onions. Quality and service (an average Pink's chili dog can be ordered, prepared and delivered to the customer in less than 30 seconds!) have been the two reasons Pink's has not only survived, but become famous. And free parking really makes it the best deal in town.



After we filled up on dogs, we took Jake for a tour through the mansions in Bel Air, the Pier in Santa Monica and the frightfully dirty Venice Beach. It was Thea's first time there and all the idyllic visions she had of Venice Beach were immediately dispelled when she saw the indigents and grime...Tom and Jake thought it was way cool!

PS If you can find Tom in one of the photos in this posting, you could win two weeks free housesitting (offer only valid if you live within one block of a beach or resort area).

Surf's Up

The Wedge

Mid July

We realize and appreciate that this opportunity doesn't come around often so we've settled into a comfortable routine, reacquainting ourselves with each other, reading books and magazines, and continuing to explore the perfect little town of Newport Beach. One of the places we were determined to visit was The Wedge! A surfer's Paradise.

The Wedge is a world-famous spot for surfing, bodyboarding, and bodysurfing located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula. In 1928, the Corona Del Mar Surfboard Club hosted the Pacific Coast Surfboard Championship. The club was the largest of its kind in the United States with members such as surfing greats Duke Kahanamoku, Tom Blade of Redondo, Gerrard and Art Vultee of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and other world class surfers who brought international attention to California beaches.


When supplied with a south swell of the proper size and direction, the Wedge can produce shore break waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia. Waves are often 3-5 feet larger than waves at other Newport beach. According to a 2004 Sports Illustrated article, The Wedge is “the toughest bodysurfing spot in the U.S.” Tom and I opted to watch vs participate as we weren’t sure our health insurance covered surfing accidents!

Balboa Fun Zone

Balboa Island

Saturday, July 15 & Sunday, July 16, 2006

Ready to take on a healthy lifestyle, our first weekend in Newport Beach we ventured on a four mile walk to Balboa Island. Once we crossed the small bridge onto the Island we strolled by adorable gift shops, galleries and restaurants and enjoyed peeking into the windows of some of the exquisite waterfront homes.

From the tip of the island we hopped on the Balboa Ferry (for a whopping .50 cents Round Trip) which took us over to the Balboa Peninsula. There, we took in the Balboa Fun Zone, one of Southern California's oldest and last great coastal amusement areas. Attractions include the old horse carousel built in 1938, a 14-foot trampoline, an arcade, and a Ferris Wheel, one of Thea's favorite amusement rides. We learned that this will be the last summer for this charming amusement park as it will be torn down in the fall to make way for the expansion of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.

We passed the rest of the day on Balboa Pier watching surfers trying to catch the waves, while fishermen hauled in their daily catch.

It's rumored that Balboa Island is where the frozen chocolate banana—rolled in ground nuts or candy sprinkles, was first marketed. If you were ever a fan of the TV show "Arrested Development," which we were, the frozen chocolate banana stand owned by the Bluth family is inspired by ones on Balboa Island.

The following afternoon, our friend Sheri, from Manhattan Beach, spent the afternoon with us. Thea shared the new discovery of Balboa Island with her and then we all dined at Avila's El Ranchito Restaurant, an authentic little Mexican restaurant whose motto, Family Owned, Family Operated, Family Loved seems fitting. The Nachos Ranchitos were most worthy of our praise, as was the friendly service, and while the prices were low, the heat from the salsa was high...Just the way we like it!

Newport Beach

Corona Del Mar

Friday, July 9 til September 9, 2006

There really is nothing quite like it. Both Tom & I have traveled extensively, but Corona Del Mar is a Paradise like no other, and the "Crown of the Sea" is a perfectly fitting name. Corona Del Mar ranges along a bluff at the south end of Newport Beach and includes some of the city’s most prestigious residential areas. It's hard to find a home under $3 million.

The streets, which are cleaned twice a week, are named after flowers, and run in alphabetical order from Acacia to Poppy, each lined with a different variety of trees. Beautiful flower gardens on each street display the flower from which the street is named. The cars are equally beautiful...Ferraris, BMWs, Mercedes, Porches, and Lamborghinis...and all spotless.

And spotless are the beaches. No jellyfish, no mosquitoes, no flies and NO HUMIDITY. Just the most beautiful blue waters and white soft sand. We find that we can be very happy being beach bums in Paradise. Although we know reality is looming in front of us, we are most content in the present. And, we are able to tend to our friend's home, look after her fish, and water her plants. We've thought more than once about becoming professional house sitters...

The photo above is taken from Little Corona Del Mar Beach...Tom & Thea's favorite. It's also a favorite for wedding photographers! No, we didn't elope yet!

LA in 5 Days

Los Angeles, California

Sunday-Thursday, July 8-13, 2006

On our first day in LA, Thea was in dire need of a Starbuck’s fix. Since our tires were melted, we set off on foot to explore our new neighborhood. But thanks to our best friend TomTom (the little GPS system we've come to rely on daily) who finds restaurants in addition to getting us from Point A to Point B, we found ourselves at City Walk in Universal Studios. Yes, our first day in LA and we end up in one of the biggest tourist traps in town…all national restaurant and retail chains…everything not indigenous to the State! Still, we did get to watch Italy defeat France in the World Cup finals on a huge outdoor screen and Tommy enjoyed his first Original Tommy's Burger. Then, we did what everyone does in Hollywood...we went to the movies ("The Devil Wears Prada"...not bad)!

Later that day we received a call from our friend telling us that unfortunately for us the real estate market really isn’t as slow as it's been reported in LA and that the house was sold, although we'd have some time before we had to move on. The very same day, another dear friend called to say she had been in an accident back east and would find it helpful if we could house sit at her home in Corona Del Mar (next town to Newport Beach) while she recuperated in Connecticut for the rest of the summer. So, we quickly got new tires for Tom's car and took delivery of my mine.

We attempted to acquaint ourselves with parts of LA—Westwood for exotic combinations of sushi at Tomodachi, Laurel Canyon for organic Italian fare at Pace with our friend Jason, and Hollywood for glimpses of the stars (real or embedded in the pavement) at the Kodak and Grauman's Chinese Theatre . But after just five days, the heat and traffic were so brutal that we decided it was time to head south to Newport Beach.

Hurray for Hollywood!

California

Saturday, July 8, 2006

One week and 2,684 glorious miles were behind us. The last leg of the trip through the Mojave Desert was intense. Not only was the temperature over 110 degrees but we soon realized that we were running on empty and there wasn't a gas station within 100 miles. We had to close the windows and kill the A/C to conserve gas. Thea swore she lost five pounds in the Mojave Sauna! Tom’s Blazer also lost a few things…the tires literally melted from the intense heat. We rolled into Ludlow on fumes and we fumed about the price of gas (now $3.56 per gallon).

Before we left DC we knew we had a place to stay for awhile once we arrived in LA—a house in the Hollywood Hills that belonged to a friend of ours Mom who recently passed away. We arrived at dusk to the very, very, very (did we say very?) old house. But this 1922 fixer upper had most of the essentials...a bed, bath, and kitchen; however in addition to no A/C, we soon realized there was no cell reception, no wireless Internet,and NO TV. Without one of those comforts we could survive, but without all four we went into a slight state of apoplexy! After driving the last 446 miles and realizing we had reached our final destination we were suddenly overcome by exhaustion. We were asleep by 8 p.m.

Batman in Flagstaff

Flagstaff, Arizona

Friday, July 7, 2006

We found the little town of Flagstaff to be welcoming and enjoyed pizza in the town's Heritage Square at dusk watching “Batman Begins” on a huge outdoor screen with the denizens of Northern Arizona University students who rule the town. Ironically, the server at Alpine pizza was home on summer break from George Mason U, so we had fun chatting up DC with him.

In some ways, Old Town Flagstaff reminded us so much of Georgetown-dozens of locally owned bars and restaurants, historic buildings, and a small community feel. But where it differs is that it is surrounded by the largest pine forest in North America. The other difference is that everyone was attired in Eddie Bauer-styled clothing vs suit and ties.

The only mistake we really made was searching for a hotel on a weekend night so near the Grand Canyon. We ended up at in a place that makes the Bates Motel look like a five star destination.

Petrified and Petroglyphs

Arizona

Friday, July 7, 2006

We crossed the Continental Divide and gasped at the beauty of Arizona. Nature really got it right. The Petrified Forest and Painted Dessert were mind blowing.
We were so glad we detoured onto the 27-mile drive for this National Treasure. In addition to the beautiful desert scenery the National Park also contains a rich collection of archaeological remains from centuries of human occupation. Chief among these are the remarkable petroglyphs—figures carved into the dark "desert varnish" which covers the sandstone.

Detail of some of the petroglyphs can be seen in the picture on the left. Most striking is the large wading bird--an avocet, perhaps--pictured just to the left of center. It isn't known whether the artist depicted a frog, or a person, in the bird's mouth. These ancient drawings date from the 1100's and are some of best examples of petroglyphs found in the southwestern United States. They were probably carved by the Anasazi Indians. We found ourselves, once again, in awe of those who pioneered this land so long ago.

Farewell New Mexico

Continental Divide, New Mexico
Friday, July 7, 2006

Just before crossing the border into Arizona we came upon the Continental Divide. Somehow seeing the "backbone" of our nation seemed worthy of a photo-op.

Sangre de Christo

Taos, New Mexico
Wednesday, July 5, 2006

After Santa Fe, we continued north to Taos- an Indian Pueblo, a Spanish village, a world-class ski resort, and an historic art colony... all in one. The 70 mile winding road through the Sangre de Christo Mountains lead to more breathtaking landscapes.

Ivan snagged us a great rate for a suite at the charming Fechin Inn situated in the middle of the quaint town. Carved woodwork, smooth adobe walls, and open courtyards complete with chile ristras made us understand why the hotel was the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Condé Naste Gold List Award. Feeling a little lightheaded from the 7,000 foot altitude we took advantage of the rocking chairs in the courtyard where we enjoyed the cool mountain breeze, sipped wine, and read the paper catching up on the news of the world.

Later that evening we experienced the first rain since we left DC and enjoyed watching it from the balcony of our suite rather than watching it fill our basement! The high altitude ensured a good night's sleep. 6’s and 8’s are great, but a little extravagance sure is nice!

After a bountiful complimentary breakfast in handsome lobby we explored the town, once again taken with the charm of the one-of-a-kind boutiques and galleries. We looked for Julia Roberts and the twins, but to no avail!

We made it back to Albuquerque in time for dinner and enjoyed some downhome BBQ with Ivan and Tamaya, this time at Mr. Powdrell's BBQ, a great little dive that specializes in smoked barbecue, beef, chicken and fish. While Tom indulged in the pulled pork sandwich, Thea gnawed on the spareribs. We took it all in as we knew Friday we were back on the road to California.

The Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Thea unpacked her turquoise jewelry and we headed north to Santa Fe.

By the time we arrived we were ready for another dish showcasing flavors indigenous to New Mexico and Plaza Cafe didn't disappoint. Centrally located in Santa Fe's Plaza, this 90-year old restaurant served up a platter of Huevos Rancheros that we sopped up with delicious golden, hot sopaipillas. Tom thought this was the single best dish he had ever tasted!

Fully energized, we couldn't wait to explore the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Having only spent two days in New Mexico it was easy to understand why it, and Santa Fe especially, became O'Keeffe's adopted home. Amazingly, I learned that her happiest years were in NM when she was in her 40's, 50's and 60's. Hmmmmmmm.

We browsed through the myriad galleries brimming with spectacular and colorful art, so many depicting the intoxicating landscape. The good thing about packing hundreds of boxes is that it deterred both of us from wanting to purchase even the smallest token as a memento.

As we glimpsed remnants of the Santa Fe Trail the irony wasn't lost on us that the trail was once used by the stagecoaches and pioneers heading to California seeking a new adventure.

The Native American statue in front of the St Francis Cathedral was particularly enchanting.

Ivan & Tamaya & the Balloon Museum

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Although only on the road for three days, more than 1900 miles separated us from our families, so we were delighted that our arrival in Albuquerque meant we would be visiting our dear friends Ivan & Tamaya. After hugs and oohing and ahhing over Tamaya's new tummy (sporting the soon-to-be born Sean Raymond) we took a tour of their hometown and then we got down to the serious business of discovering our first taste of New Mexico.

Ivan & Tamaya gave two thumbs up to Roadfood's suggestion of Frontier. This gigantic restaurant (literally spreading across an entire block), caters to U. of NM students, locals and visitors like us 24/7. It looks more like a school cafeteria (with the exception of Western art adorning the walls and the abundance of paintings paying homage to John Wayne) but that's the only comparison to any cafeteria we'd been in before. The food, served in nano seconds, is stupendous! Ivan and Tamaya steered us through the seemingly endless menu. We indulged on perfectly piquant green chile stew, gargantuan chicken enchiladas, and super crispy beef tacos. Nirvana!

Ivan is on the board of the International Balloon Museum so we were privileged to attend a private party on the balcony of the museum where we saw a spectacular 4th of July firework display. What made it even more fabulous was while the colorful rockets and flares exploded in air, Mother Nature simultaneously hurled bolts of lightning across the mountains, for as far as our eyes could see.

The Buckaroo at Tucumcari

Tucumcari, New Mexico
Monday, July 3, 2006

By nightfall we navigated into New Mexico. When we saw signs leading to Tucumcari, we knew that's where we would rest for the night. As we cruised into town, Tom attempted to sing Little Feat's 1971 song, "Willin' "

I've been from Tuscon to Tucumcari,
Tehachapi to Tonapah

Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Now I driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
and you show me a sign

I'll be willin', to be movin'

We could tell from the plethora of roadside motels with the half flickering neon signs that in it's heyday Tucumcari probably rocked, but that's when Route 66 paved the way west and went right through the town. But, Route 40 replaced the storied highway, veering traffic around the little town and Tucumcari quickly fell into a tired and sad state. The only things we encountered were the tumbleweeds. However, it did permit us to have our pick ofcheap spots to hang our hats for the night. Our favorite was the Buckaroo Motel for $20 buckaroos a night!

Tucumcari is named for the scenic flattop Tucumcari Mountains acting as a background for the city. The meaning of the word Tucumcari is a loose derivation of a Comanche word for "lookout."

Factoid: Tucumcari's median household income: $22,560; the median house value: $48,900. Once again we were reminded that it's not only the miles that are separating us from DC!

Cadillac Ranch

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Amarillo, Texas

Monday, July 3, 2006

We thoroughly enjoyed some of America's quirkier Landmarks, including Cadillac Ranch in the Texas Panhandle (Located along the tatters of historic Route 66, Cadillac Ranch was built in 1974. It was the brainchild of Stanley Marsh 3, the helium millionaire who owns the dusty wheat field where it stands. Marsh and The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art collective, assembled used Cadillacs representing the "Golden Age" of American Automobiles (1949 through 1963). The ten graffiti-covered cars are half-buried, nose-down, facing west "at the same angle as the Cheops' pyramids.").