We arrived in Houston @6pm, went out to eat at Escalantes (the white cheese queso is wonderful) ...then went to see the movie Twilight. We owned the place, which was great. It was me, my dd, my sis and neice...we liked it. I have read the series, my neice is almost done with the first book and dd and sis have not read any of it. So as the book reader, I would say that it was not as good as the book...but how could any movie be.
All 4 of us thought Edward was cute...but also thought James, the bad vampire was too. And that Jasper looked like he had his finger in an electrical socket.
But I thought the baseball scene was well done.
Oh, and the biology scene made dd laugh. It was done stupidly, with the 'breck girl'moment and where Edward looks like he is going to puke. (remember she has not read the books, so couldn't put it in 'context')
And as soon as she saw the Indian teens at the beach, she whispered "They are werewolves, aren't they?"
Dd studied acting in college,a theater minor, so I asked what she thought of Bella.
(if she could break the performance down technically for us) for we all thought the girl playing Bella was...awful. But luckily not enough to ruin the movie, at least not for us.
Both dd and neice are definately on Team Edward...I'll have to see the next movie, where they really round out Jacob's character to decide.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
the "O.C" girl in DFW...
Its been a little fun watching my dd, who has been living in Southern California make the transition to becoming a Texan..okay, THAT may never happen. But here are a couple of observations.
She used to work at South Coast Plaza, the very upscale mall in Costa Mesa. So, we went to a mall here in Fort Worth...hmmm, now this mall has a lot of great stores...but, the Victoria's Secret Cosmetics store, does not have the selection she is used to. She actually asked the cashier, and the cashier recommended a mall in Dallas as being more 'upscale', and may have the selection dd is looking for. BUT, no fears, we plan to visit Memorial Mall and possibly Galleria while in Houston.
Oh, the first night in Fort Worth, we were in a Waffle House in Euless (near our hotel)...and..when she saw a guy 'light up' a cigarette at the counter...uh oh. Now in CA, we have the laws where there is no smoking in public places...and that is what she is used to.
dd.."how rude!!"
me and dsil.."There are different laws here in Texas"
dd.."well, he wouldn't like it if I walked by him and tooted"
me and dsil.."He probably wouldn't react to that"
dd.."well, at least I'm not emitting toxins into the air!"sidenote...kinda depends on what she ate for lunch, huh?
but we have since found out that Tx is changing their laws next year to be more like CA.
A Super Walmart, actually, she kinda likes these. While living in Orange County, we did not find any Walmarts near her, there was a Target. So, during the 4 years of college she went there.
After marrying the Marine, she had a Walmart right there in Oceanside, and had noted that her money went further at that Walmart than the Target. Now, the Super Walmart here in Fort Worth, was a first for both of us...and we like it. And the one Target we've driven by, on the 377, is a Super Target. So convenient and the pricing is helpful for these kids on a budget.
But, I have noted that I don't see many grocery stores around here, so far, maybe one Kroger and one Albertsons...
She is convinced the freeway system is more difficult than So. Cal and L.A...I think they are the same..okay, DFW has been worse.
I mean, they have the 35E and the 35W, 2 different freeways going North and South. Guess, 35E runs thru Fort Worth..while 35W runs thru Dallas...but why are both 35? Why not a different number? Sure confused us the first time we saw a 35E N sign...I mean what is it East or North?
AND the drivers here are equally aggressive and rude. You know, a turn signal means 'hurry up so the person cannot get in your lane', as opposed to allowing someone in. Which I still do.
(when I lived in Texas, 25 years ago, I remember drivers being more courteous) (but that could be the difference of the 25 years, huh)
I don't remember doing things like blocking parking lot entrances...but they sure do it here. You have to stick your nose in between cars to get out of a parking lot.
We've been telling dd she may need to gain a little weight. In the O.C..the goal is to be a size 0 or 2, 4 is getting heavy and what did they say in that movie (the Devil Wears Prada)? 6 is the new 16? (which I think is STUPID) Anyways, 6 to 8 and up looks like the norm out here (which I think is better and healthier) We have not seen very many pencil thin, skeletal looking gals out here. YAY!!
Overall, I think dd will adjust. The store clerks are friendlier, to get someone willing to help ya as opposed to growl at ya for disturbing them IS a different experience. AND we have noticed that.
Funny note, while at a kiosk in front of the Macy's, DD and I were looking at puzzles and games. I noticed a good looking young man, just kinda hanging out...trying to catch dd's eye. When she pulled out a Sooneropoly game (she is married to an Okie)..the young man told his friends, "she's an OU fan" and they walked away. teehee
She used to work at South Coast Plaza, the very upscale mall in Costa Mesa. So, we went to a mall here in Fort Worth...hmmm, now this mall has a lot of great stores...but, the Victoria's Secret Cosmetics store, does not have the selection she is used to. She actually asked the cashier, and the cashier recommended a mall in Dallas as being more 'upscale', and may have the selection dd is looking for. BUT, no fears, we plan to visit Memorial Mall and possibly Galleria while in Houston.
Oh, the first night in Fort Worth, we were in a Waffle House in Euless (near our hotel)...and..when she saw a guy 'light up' a cigarette at the counter...uh oh. Now in CA, we have the laws where there is no smoking in public places...and that is what she is used to.
dd.."how rude!!"
me and dsil.."There are different laws here in Texas"
dd.."well, he wouldn't like it if I walked by him and tooted"
me and dsil.."He probably wouldn't react to that"
dd.."well, at least I'm not emitting toxins into the air!"sidenote...kinda depends on what she ate for lunch, huh?
but we have since found out that Tx is changing their laws next year to be more like CA.
A Super Walmart, actually, she kinda likes these. While living in Orange County, we did not find any Walmarts near her, there was a Target. So, during the 4 years of college she went there.
After marrying the Marine, she had a Walmart right there in Oceanside, and had noted that her money went further at that Walmart than the Target. Now, the Super Walmart here in Fort Worth, was a first for both of us...and we like it. And the one Target we've driven by, on the 377, is a Super Target. So convenient and the pricing is helpful for these kids on a budget.
But, I have noted that I don't see many grocery stores around here, so far, maybe one Kroger and one Albertsons...
She is convinced the freeway system is more difficult than So. Cal and L.A...I think they are the same..okay, DFW has been worse.
I mean, they have the 35E and the 35W, 2 different freeways going North and South. Guess, 35E runs thru Fort Worth..while 35W runs thru Dallas...but why are both 35? Why not a different number? Sure confused us the first time we saw a 35E N sign...I mean what is it East or North?
AND the drivers here are equally aggressive and rude. You know, a turn signal means 'hurry up so the person cannot get in your lane', as opposed to allowing someone in. Which I still do.
(when I lived in Texas, 25 years ago, I remember drivers being more courteous) (but that could be the difference of the 25 years, huh)
I don't remember doing things like blocking parking lot entrances...but they sure do it here. You have to stick your nose in between cars to get out of a parking lot.
We've been telling dd she may need to gain a little weight. In the O.C..the goal is to be a size 0 or 2, 4 is getting heavy and what did they say in that movie (the Devil Wears Prada)? 6 is the new 16? (which I think is STUPID) Anyways, 6 to 8 and up looks like the norm out here (which I think is better and healthier) We have not seen very many pencil thin, skeletal looking gals out here. YAY!!
Overall, I think dd will adjust. The store clerks are friendlier, to get someone willing to help ya as opposed to growl at ya for disturbing them IS a different experience. AND we have noticed that.
Funny note, while at a kiosk in front of the Macy's, DD and I were looking at puzzles and games. I noticed a good looking young man, just kinda hanging out...trying to catch dd's eye. When she pulled out a Sooneropoly game (she is married to an Okie)..the young man told his friends, "she's an OU fan" and they walked away. teehee
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Big City freeways..
So, this morning dd and I decide to try out the mall here.. North East Mall, so I google directions, which include:
Take exit 22 toward State Hwy 121/Fort Worth/N Richland Hills (okay)
Merge onto NE Loop 820 (not bad)
Sharp left at Airport Fwy/NE Loop 820/E Loop 820 N East/E Loop 820 N Service Rd E(what the HECK!)
Turn right at Cranford Ct (this I can understand)
all I can say, is this is going to be interesting...how many freeways in that one line? 4?
oooh, the simple days of taking one exit off Interstate 5...but I will go home to my sanity on the 18th.
edited next morning: Well, took the wrong merge onto NE 820 or something, so did not make it to the sharp left. There was a split to choose either right or left..we chose left...BUT the good thing is we had to U turn on the 820, which made the mall to the right of the freeway, and easier to get to. Now, trying to come home, I chose the wrong freeway (the 820 was in front, so I got on the freeway in front...but NOOOOO that was the 121...so ANOTHER U-turn (luckily they have U turn lanes under the overpasses). I won't go into detail, but lets just say, I had a total of 3 U-turns this trip!!
Take exit 22 toward State Hwy 121/Fort Worth/N Richland Hills (okay)
Merge onto NE Loop 820 (not bad)
Sharp left at Airport Fwy/NE Loop 820/E Loop 820 N East/E Loop 820 N Service Rd E(what the HECK!)
Turn right at Cranford Ct (this I can understand)
all I can say, is this is going to be interesting...how many freeways in that one line? 4?
oooh, the simple days of taking one exit off Interstate 5...but I will go home to my sanity on the 18th.
edited next morning: Well, took the wrong merge onto NE 820 or something, so did not make it to the sharp left. There was a split to choose either right or left..we chose left...BUT the good thing is we had to U turn on the 820, which made the mall to the right of the freeway, and easier to get to. Now, trying to come home, I chose the wrong freeway (the 820 was in front, so I got on the freeway in front...but NOOOOO that was the 121...so ANOTHER U-turn (luckily they have U turn lanes under the overpasses). I won't go into detail, but lets just say, I had a total of 3 U-turns this trip!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Whew!!
The past week has been a whirlwind...and yesterday we finally got internet. A week without internet, now THAT is tough on your system.
Lets see, arrived in San Diego on Thursday...went to On the Border for lunch after the airport, then got to work, packing up.
Friday, some errand running...getting the car an oil change, a Walmart run, then finished packing and loading the Penske truck and were heading out by 4 pm. We drove (in the worst of San Diego commuter traffic) and stopped just past Yuma, AZ. Colby did very good, watching traffic and for a while, we thought we had a 'travel' cat...we were wrong. Stayed at a nice Microtel. Decided we were not going to set a schedule, and wake up when we wake up.
Saturday, woke up and headed out @9am. Colby started to show his colors and we gave up and gave him one of those 'settle' down pills, OH MY!! He got grumpy...like biting me and Cierra..grumpy. After the pill, he was able to sleep..it was nice. And when he woke up in the evening...he was much more mellow. We are hauling a trailer with Chris's car, so we can only go about 50mph. So its a comfortable 'lolly lag' across AZ and New Mexico..but we stop after El Paso for the night. At a 8 hotel..I can't remember the rest of the name, but it was horrible. because we are travelling with a pet, they put is in a smoking room. DISGUSTING!!!
Sunday, head out toward Fort Worth! Because of our great experience at the previous Microtel, we change our reservations from Best Western to Microtel in Euless (near the airport) and it is NICE..best customer service at the counter also. The drive with Colby is very much like Saturday...you can really tell he is getting sick of the car. Once we get to the hotel, he 'goes nuts', enjoys having space to run. I get my own room here, love the kids, but I need my own space also. The kids set up their laptops in the room...and start emailing realtors and responding to ads for home rentals.
Monday..I make some phone calls from the newspaper ads and set up a house viewing in Arlington. This will be the first of about 7 house we look at...hmmmmm.
Okay, ad says 1600 sq foot home, near lake and golf course...what we saw was..gross. No other word for it. the outside siding on the side of the house is rotting. The master bath was ugly and small and the kitchen had a dead cockroach in the middle of the floor. And the neighbors, literally had trash in their front yard and alongside the house. Right, we are going to put my little "Miss Orange County" dd in a house like that. We scooted out of there quickly. We drove by another house in Arlington, then cancelled the tour with the fellow. Just knew by the outside that it was not for them.
Actually, dd grew up in a 'hick' town in central CA...but spent 4 years in the OC for college and the past year in North San Diego married to her Marine...so, she has So. Cal tastes.
We then headed North...to North Fort Worth. and LOVED the first house... 2000 sq foot, 4 bedrooms, the layout is perfect the amenities, including a kitchen with an island...just loved it. And it set a standard for the other 4 houses... Only one house, that was similar came close, but it was for $200. So they were torn...one they LOVE for a little higher (that is not as 'clean') or the 2nd place..not loved as much, cleaner, for a little less. So, dd calls the owner of the LOVE house and asks for the key code so we can take a 2nd look and make sure it is LOVE and not relief after the 'gross' house...ya know. She tells him about the other house and that it is less...and that is tempting to the kids. To make a long story short (Ha!)...he brings the price down and it is love not relief, so we move in on Tuesday.
Now to put it in perspective, in San Diego, they were paying $15 less per month for a one bedroom apartment...here they are getting a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 living room, laundry room, garage, backyard...huge kitchen with an island...they are very happy. And so is Colby, he has been going 'insane' with all the running he can do and the exploring.
So, Tuesday, we move in. Now it is just us 3. and with my back I am worthless to move heavy furniture. Luckily, there are only 3 or 4 pieces that I cannot help with. We do it in shifts..unload truck, put away stuff. So it actually goes pretty smooth. I do kitchen, dd does master closet (these kids are clothes collectors, so it is pretty full) then she does master bath. Chris sets up washer/dryer and sets up the office...
Weds and Thurs...SHOPPING, organizing and cleaning.
We got to Ikea, to pick up the stuff in my room. A twin bed and a desk area. I have my own little scrap corner in Fort Worth!!
At first, dd is not 'into' it.. but eventually even she starts calling it the scrap room!! Yay, Yay, Yay. And I worked on the project I brought.
So here we are, Friday morning, pretty much settled in. Yesterday we picked up a Christmas tree at Walmart...so we have the last of the furniture to build, (hey, Marine-income budget, so buildable furniture) and a tree to decorate. We are all looking forward to a
'home' day.
And on Sunday, I plan to leave for Houston to visit my sisters...
Hope I can do it, cuz yesterday, while driving on the 114...I had a mild anxiety attack. I'm sure not used to crazy freeway systems, yesterday alone we went to the 35W S to 820 E...then back over
820W to 35W N to 170E to 114E (where I had my li'l episode) (had to stop at a Michael's to settle down)...dd took over to the 121 N to get to an Ikea. Its been like that EVERYday! I'm used to one North to South freeway I5, merging to one East West Freeway 580...this was tooo much for me!!
And so is this long post...I'll come back later and do a shorter post about little miss OC adjusting to Texas...ha!!!!!
Lets see, arrived in San Diego on Thursday...went to On the Border for lunch after the airport, then got to work, packing up.
Friday, some errand running...getting the car an oil change, a Walmart run, then finished packing and loading the Penske truck and were heading out by 4 pm. We drove (in the worst of San Diego commuter traffic) and stopped just past Yuma, AZ. Colby did very good, watching traffic and for a while, we thought we had a 'travel' cat...we were wrong. Stayed at a nice Microtel. Decided we were not going to set a schedule, and wake up when we wake up.
Saturday, woke up and headed out @9am. Colby started to show his colors and we gave up and gave him one of those 'settle' down pills, OH MY!! He got grumpy...like biting me and Cierra..grumpy. After the pill, he was able to sleep..it was nice. And when he woke up in the evening...he was much more mellow. We are hauling a trailer with Chris's car, so we can only go about 50mph. So its a comfortable 'lolly lag' across AZ and New Mexico..but we stop after El Paso for the night. At a 8 hotel..I can't remember the rest of the name, but it was horrible. because we are travelling with a pet, they put is in a smoking room. DISGUSTING!!!
Sunday, head out toward Fort Worth! Because of our great experience at the previous Microtel, we change our reservations from Best Western to Microtel in Euless (near the airport) and it is NICE..best customer service at the counter also. The drive with Colby is very much like Saturday...you can really tell he is getting sick of the car. Once we get to the hotel, he 'goes nuts', enjoys having space to run. I get my own room here, love the kids, but I need my own space also. The kids set up their laptops in the room...and start emailing realtors and responding to ads for home rentals.
Monday..I make some phone calls from the newspaper ads and set up a house viewing in Arlington. This will be the first of about 7 house we look at...hmmmmm.
Okay, ad says 1600 sq foot home, near lake and golf course...what we saw was..gross. No other word for it. the outside siding on the side of the house is rotting. The master bath was ugly and small and the kitchen had a dead cockroach in the middle of the floor. And the neighbors, literally had trash in their front yard and alongside the house. Right, we are going to put my little "Miss Orange County" dd in a house like that. We scooted out of there quickly. We drove by another house in Arlington, then cancelled the tour with the fellow. Just knew by the outside that it was not for them.
Actually, dd grew up in a 'hick' town in central CA...but spent 4 years in the OC for college and the past year in North San Diego married to her Marine...so, she has So. Cal tastes.
We then headed North...to North Fort Worth. and LOVED the first house... 2000 sq foot, 4 bedrooms, the layout is perfect the amenities, including a kitchen with an island...just loved it. And it set a standard for the other 4 houses... Only one house, that was similar came close, but it was for $200. So they were torn...one they LOVE for a little higher (that is not as 'clean') or the 2nd place..not loved as much, cleaner, for a little less. So, dd calls the owner of the LOVE house and asks for the key code so we can take a 2nd look and make sure it is LOVE and not relief after the 'gross' house...ya know. She tells him about the other house and that it is less...and that is tempting to the kids. To make a long story short (Ha!)...he brings the price down and it is love not relief, so we move in on Tuesday.
Now to put it in perspective, in San Diego, they were paying $15 less per month for a one bedroom apartment...here they are getting a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 living room, laundry room, garage, backyard...huge kitchen with an island...they are very happy. And so is Colby, he has been going 'insane' with all the running he can do and the exploring.
So, Tuesday, we move in. Now it is just us 3. and with my back I am worthless to move heavy furniture. Luckily, there are only 3 or 4 pieces that I cannot help with. We do it in shifts..unload truck, put away stuff. So it actually goes pretty smooth. I do kitchen, dd does master closet (these kids are clothes collectors, so it is pretty full) then she does master bath. Chris sets up washer/dryer and sets up the office...
Weds and Thurs...SHOPPING, organizing and cleaning.
We got to Ikea, to pick up the stuff in my room. A twin bed and a desk area. I have my own little scrap corner in Fort Worth!!
At first, dd is not 'into' it.. but eventually even she starts calling it the scrap room!! Yay, Yay, Yay. And I worked on the project I brought.
So here we are, Friday morning, pretty much settled in. Yesterday we picked up a Christmas tree at Walmart...so we have the last of the furniture to build, (hey, Marine-income budget, so buildable furniture) and a tree to decorate. We are all looking forward to a
'home' day.
And on Sunday, I plan to leave for Houston to visit my sisters...
Hope I can do it, cuz yesterday, while driving on the 114...I had a mild anxiety attack. I'm sure not used to crazy freeway systems, yesterday alone we went to the 35W S to 820 E...then back over
820W to 35W N to 170E to 114E (where I had my li'l episode) (had to stop at a Michael's to settle down)...dd took over to the 121 N to get to an Ikea. Its been like that EVERYday! I'm used to one North to South freeway I5, merging to one East West Freeway 580...this was tooo much for me!!
And so is this long post...I'll come back later and do a shorter post about little miss OC adjusting to Texas...ha!!!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
time for my trip...
Here is Colby, I'll be traveling with him next week. in a car. oh what fun.
AND
soooo cool, guess what button I found...I can now be a follower or a subscriber to other people's blogs...
not everyone has that button.. but I sure am enjoying it.
The subscribe button is cool also, whenever I sign on to my Yahoo I can see who has updated.
Well, I got all my stuff done. Preparing for a trip sure is hectic.
Ready to go! Soooo, I'll try to keep up but I may be without computer access for a while. Take Care all!!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
a slide show of photos
There was a thread on 2 peas, about our fave photographer and how that person has inspired us.
I responded about C's friend Tyler Coleman, and how he makes the mundane look like art. How he inspired me with his photos he took after a trip to San Francisco with dd and a group of friends. He creates art with his perspectives...that before I'd never think of looking at...and trying to capture.
And it got me thinking, about how my own phototaking has changed. So I thought I'd do this slideshow about some of the pics I have taken that I wouldn't have thought of taking before. You know, back when I everything was centered, posed and all.
So, I leave you with a link to pics he took of dd's wedding
Tyler's pics
of dd's wedding
Monday, December 1, 2008
getting ready...
There is just so much to be done!
As I prepare for this trip and try to think of what needs to be done so Christmas can go smoothly when I get back. So, on Saturday, dd and I worked on the tree..and I have been decorating (a little) around the house and for the past couple of days, setting up Christmas cards so I can mail them Weds. Then there are the layouts for the Circle Journals. I need to pick up a couple of things also.
Work is hectic, gotta squeeze what I usually take a couple of weeks to do into 3 days. Now it was helpful that I was able to do a lot of the stuff last month to 'prep' myself.
I ordered a bunch of stuff on Amazon today. Cyber Monday, right? Well, you know me, if there is any kind of shopping day... I'll participate. I gotta help with the economy.
Oh! you know how Victoria's Secret was giving those certificates on Black Friday. That could be worth from $10 to $500? Well, dd found out that hers is worth $100.
She made a $15 purchase and got $100. Kinda makes me wish I had bought something there.
I'm looking forward to this trip, a chance to go to Texas, see my sisters...and hang out with dd and dsil..but, oh, its going to be so hard. Part of me is excited for them...the other part is soooo sad. But we raise our kids, and equip them to leave the nest and make their own lives. That is the point. So, I am very proud.
Good thing I have a grandbaby on the way...someone to take my spoiling needs out on... dil is spreading the rumor (okay its true) that I have already bought Adrianna 15 outfits. teehee Since dd is leaving the state, I've even thought about buying some Tinkerbell decor to convert dd's room to Adrianna's room at grandmas. teehee.
okay,
off to bed...Heroes is intense...yikes!!
As I prepare for this trip and try to think of what needs to be done so Christmas can go smoothly when I get back. So, on Saturday, dd and I worked on the tree..and I have been decorating (a little) around the house and for the past couple of days, setting up Christmas cards so I can mail them Weds. Then there are the layouts for the Circle Journals. I need to pick up a couple of things also.
Work is hectic, gotta squeeze what I usually take a couple of weeks to do into 3 days. Now it was helpful that I was able to do a lot of the stuff last month to 'prep' myself.
I ordered a bunch of stuff on Amazon today. Cyber Monday, right? Well, you know me, if there is any kind of shopping day... I'll participate. I gotta help with the economy.
Oh! you know how Victoria's Secret was giving those certificates on Black Friday. That could be worth from $10 to $500? Well, dd found out that hers is worth $100.
She made a $15 purchase and got $100. Kinda makes me wish I had bought something there.
I'm looking forward to this trip, a chance to go to Texas, see my sisters...and hang out with dd and dsil..but, oh, its going to be so hard. Part of me is excited for them...the other part is soooo sad. But we raise our kids, and equip them to leave the nest and make their own lives. That is the point. So, I am very proud.
Good thing I have a grandbaby on the way...someone to take my spoiling needs out on... dil is spreading the rumor (okay its true) that I have already bought Adrianna 15 outfits. teehee Since dd is leaving the state, I've even thought about buying some Tinkerbell decor to convert dd's room to Adrianna's room at grandmas. teehee.
okay,
off to bed...Heroes is intense...yikes!!
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