My Girlfriend Time!!

My Girlfriend Time!!

Time with your girlfriends is the most rejuvenating.   It can be a quick happy hour, leisurely lunch, shopping trip or our annual girls weekend.  Who else would enjoy Black Friday shopping, a quick glass of wine, or trying to save as much as you can using the Extreme Couponing strategies?  My family would roll their eyes and make up other plans to get out of such craziness!  My girlfriends on the other hand would send out emails in order to get the entire group of us involved.

My girlfriends mean he world to me and I look forward to our girlfriend getaway each year more than anything!  Some years it’s long planned and other years it’s a spur of the moment invitation.  Regardless, it is the most anticipated vacation of my year.  Not all years are there 10 of us, sometimes only 5, but that time away is always the best. We laugh until our face hurts, stomach is in pain, and we literally pee ourselves from laughing so hard!  

During that time away, we break away from reality and only have to think about yourself.  No kids, no spouses, no household duties…. only us.  That is what makes this a true vacation!   Our ideal accommodation is a house or condo that we can all stay together.  We enjoy having a living room that we can all congregate but then bedrooms were we can have our personal space.  We’ve tried having individual hotel rooms and we’ve tried having a couple of different condos but it seems to defeat the purpose of “being together”.  We need one big house, one living room, one kitchen, one fridge, one Jacuzzi etc so we can always be together.  We have found what works best for us at either Lakeland Village in South Lake Tahoe, CA and most recently at Sea Ranch on the Northern California coast near Gualala, CA.   We are always looking for the perfect place and location in order to have other options for our getaways.  Suggestions welcome!

Sitting back and watching the dynamic of a bunch of women on vacation is funny.  You see girls fighting to putter, clean, cook, make beds, fold towels, and other household duties.  We set out snacks, offer refills, straighten the magazine pile, and clear the dinner table.  You cannot change what is automatically programmed in our genes, even when on vacation!  It’s humorous to watch!

Our days are filled with fun activities enjoyed together.  We go out for lunch, make dinner, watch chick flicks, drink margaritas, share good wine, go for a walks, enjoy nature and admire the scenery.  We have massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures.  We shop in boutiques, galleries, book stores, and tourist traps.  We go to casinos and check out local activities.  Some days we sleep in, read books, play on our computers and get caught up on the games we play on our phones.  No matter what are days are filled with, laughs are never missing.  We are able to visit and get caught up on eachother's lives.  This is the what is important.  :)

The time spent together is better than the hour on a psychiatrist couch!  We can solve each others problems, provide support for tough decisions, and commiserate with children and spouse issues.  It’s a reminder for each of us that the grass isn’t always greener, it’s just different.  We all have all lost parents, have adult kids that need assistance, have a home to take care of, jobs to complete and our own sanity to keep on an even keel.  This time together with girlfriends is so important and makes me who I am as a person, wife, mother and friend!

Thank you to Michelle, Vicki, Tracy, Char, Shannon, Stephanie, Stacy, Nicki, Melanie and to all the girls who have spend the girl's weekends with us. 

 

 

 

Conferences can be exhausting!!

Conferences can be EXHAUSTING!  Having just returned from the Signature Travel Network Conference in Las Vegas I was reminded how my clients must feel!  The alarm goes off earlier than it does on any other day and I walk literally 1 mile from my room at the Signature at the MGM to the Conference Center at the MGM Grand.  4 people movers, 8 hallways, an escalator, and finally I’m in a meeting room with a buffet breakfast set up.  While I love the different choices of teas and the raw sugar that I don’t splurge on at home, the overdone eggs and underdone bacon leaves something to the imagination!  Yes, I’m a picky breakfast eater and banquet food must please the masses. 

Breakfast seminar is followed by 2 seminars on email marketing and building your social media.  The caffeine is kicking in and I’m getting excited, rejuvenated, and taking notes like a crazy woman!  Lots of “why didn’t I think of that?”, “well of course!”, and “that makes complete sense!”, are running through my head.  I’m ready for the task. 

We break for lunch but it’s really not a break.  2000 of your “closest friends” in a ball room sharing a nice lunch while hearing a presentation from our board members and then vendors showing movies, slide shows and presenting on the 7 large screens throughout the room.  I try and plan my bathroom breaks where the woman’s room doesn’t have a line out the door, down the hall and around the corner.  I was sometimes successfully but most of the time not.  J

Lunch completed, I quickly glance at the back of my name badge as to what room and table I will be sitting at for the round tables.  Each product or vendor has 4 minutes to give you the introduction, highlights, specials and DING they move one.  This lasts for 2 ½ hours.  The room is kept cold to keep us awake and the caffeine is being replenished.  A chocolate chip cooking anyone???  Very informative and I walk away learning about a few products and companies that are new to me so this was a complete success.

Cocktails anyone?  Happy Hour is hosted by the Mexican Tourist Board and the bar is open.  Hot and cold hors d’ eurves stations, music and entertainment and this ballroom is again transformed.  I’m still in the same clothes that I was in VERY early this morning.  I’m now carrying a large bag of literature given out at the round tables.  My purse is getting heavy and I’m trying to text my colleagues to see what’s next.  I feel like I Love Lucy in the candy factory!  Next a “private” cocktail reception and onto dinner, AND tomorrow to do it all over again!

The days are whirlwinds and overloads of information.  Having belonged to a consortium but not really knowing how it affects me and my clients, I’m reminded why I am in the travel business.  Relationships, contacts, fun, adventure, selling MY knowledge and MY passion to clients who trust MY opinion…. Why should this be an epiphany?  Regardless of your business or passions, I think we all get caught up in our daily lives and need to be re-centered periodically.  This was my shakeup!

Through this business trip I find all the more sympathy for my clients with a 330am wake up call in order to get to the airport, find parking, check in, take the tram and make a 710am flight.  I promise to have more compassion when you check in early but cannot get your room for 14 more hours because that’s when your schedule allows you to get back to the hotel lobby.  Kudos to the travelers who have a wardrobe and make up to look fresh from 430am until 12 midnight.  I give high praise to the vendors at trade shows who sell their product in 20 seconds with glowing excitement.  I thank the employers who encourage employees to attend and managers who motivate their staff to put their ideas to practice upon their return!  GREAT conference in many, many ways!!!

Absolutely LOVE the wind in my hair and unobstructed views, whether on the Harley or in the Camaro!!

Jerry's Rogue Jet Boats from Gold Beach, OR

Jerry’s Rogue Jet Boats on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon

I have done many excursions but this one ranks amongst the best.  A mixture of history of the area, plant life, animal sightings, humor and then the excitement of boating up river, 360 degree spins, boat dips and getting drenched;  104 miles roundtrip and a full day of thrills, fresh air and sunshine.  Much laughs and so pleased to share this experience with my husband and a boatload of my Livermore HOG friends!

Southern Oregon was our destination ride for the HOG club.  We drove up over 400 miles from central California thru the Redwoods and up to Gold Beach, Oregon.  Our 2 nights were stayed at the Pacific Reef Hotel right on the main drag and on the ocean in downtown Gold Beach.  Randy and I had a beautiful oceanfront room looking out to a totem pole, ocean home and the Pacific Ocean. 

We drove up on Friday and Saturday was our Rogue River trip.  Check in at 7:30am and then  boarded our jet boat.  Jerry’s offered us another layer with a jacket.  We all took a jacket and boarded our boat.  As the sun was rising into the sky we embarked on our 52 mile upriver journey. 

Let the wildlife viewing begin………  Bald eagles, otters, deer, black bear, seal, osprey and their nests, vultures, ducks and Canadian geese, just to name a few!  By the end of the trip I could recognize redwoods, madrona trees, and willows.  The rocks are flattened and carved into amazing shapes as the river rises and falls over them.  The salmon and steelhead are proud to call this beautiful river home!

We picked up and dropped off passengers staying at resorts along the river that are only accessible by boat.   There are a few lodges and resorts that are a true getaways, cutoff except for boat transportation.  Those lucky people who have pure isolation and seclusion!

Half way up we stopped at Jerry’s spot to have a bathroom break and put on our life vests.  Let the craziness begin!!!  The jet boat took off…. Spins and dips.  Water flying and being pelted by water cannons from passing boats, kayaks and canoes.  Buckets of water being thrown on us and the sweet justice of retaliation as our boat pilot sprayed the culprits!  We screamed up the rapids and then down the rapids.  When the congestions was minimal we went up and did it again!!  Thrilling …..  time and time again. 

As we arrived back at Jerry’s spot mid-river, it was time for lunch.  We earned it.  They offered us a buffet for either $10 for soup, salad and dessert or $13 to add hot food items.  Delicious food and reasonably priced.  We were told that we could bring wine and we celebrated with wine coolers.  Sooo much fun!!  Back on the boat, we headed back to Gold Beach, tired, exhausted, and sunburned!  A full day on the water with much anticipation of bringing the kids back and enjoying the experience yet again!

On a handicapped note, I am VERY pleased to mention that Jerry’s Jet Boats happily offered assistance for people not able to hike up the hill to reach the restrooms and restaurant at their half way point.   An air conditioned SUV drove us up and down the hill with a mini stop to pick wild berries and enjoy their sweetness!

 

500 miles

Beautiful day from sun to fog to overcast to sun again.  Smells of exhaust, salt air, eucalyptus, wine, ocean. Sights of the redwoods, beautiful coastline and 13 bikes all in formation. Great friends, lots of laughs, total exhaustion and sunburn. It's been an amazingly wonderful day. We made it to gold beach, Oregon! Tomorrow jet boats on the the rogue river. Good night!

Packed and ready to go .....

The challenge is always to pack appropriately and light.  I've gotten better but sure have not mastered the task.  5 day road trip on Harley.... hmmmmmm..... riding with the HOG club where you want to look like a badass, Rogue River jet boat where you want to be comfortable and warm, visiting our property where we want comfortable shoes, visiting family and friends where you want to look cute.  Keep in mind that I need to travel safely with long pants, boots, leathers and when we stop and take the helmet off, the hair, oh the hair, needs to look presentable.  Randy is GREAT and gives me as much room as he can but geez this is tough.  I want a bathing suit, just in case.  I have hair products that I cannot live without, little gifts for people we meet, etc.  Then my little secret wine stash for when I'm scared and need to take the edge off.  :) What a challenge!

So, we leave in the morning to meet with our HOG (Harley Owners Group) club at 7am (Yes! this is supposed to be a vacation!) and drive all the way up the California coast into Oregon.  First stop is the Gold Beach area near the mouth of the Rogue River.  Soooo excited to have some of our favorite couples on this same trip.  Sooooo excited to spend the quality time as a couple WITH couples.  We need this break and we need to get out of our area and explore.  I'm very happy that I found a man that shares my love of finding new roads, new areas, and new adventures.

Updates to follow......

San Francisco outing

How cool is it when the owner of your company sends your department away for the weekend to bond as a team?  Ernie Segale, owner of Segale Travel, is one of those owners and treats us VERY well.   Our weekend getaway to San Francisco was a chance for us to bond as a group, check out hotels who want our business, and experience new activities.

4 of us drove into San Francisco while 2 others took Amtrak from points beyond.  The Amtrak girls were very impressed and rejuvinated our thoughts of train travel.  We met at the Handlery Hotel and lunch in their Daily Grill Restaurant..... delicious crab cake sandwich with sliced fruit.  Since we all like to walk and Segale Travel is dedicated to a Health initiative we took off from the Handlery and walked down to the ferry building and continued along the embarcadero down to Pier 39.  It was a gorgeous day to walk and enjoy the sights of the city!

After a refreshing beer we boarded the Neptune for our wine tasting boat tour. As we sailed out and under the Golden Gate Bridge, around Alcatraz then to the Bay Bridge and back to Pier 39, we tasted local wines or beer.  Melissa and Kevin are fun hosts that enjoy showing their guests a good time.  Local business, local owners, local wines and a great time was had by all.  Dinner at Scoma's which is always delicious and our night concluded back at the Handlery.

The Handlery Hotel has always been a favorite.  1/2 block off Union Square, a swimming pool, onsite parking, historic room in old San Francisco type decor and then their deluxe rooms which are more modern and offer more amenities.  All this at a decent price, especially compared to the large name hotels in the area!  

Sunday morning we were hosted for breakfast and a site inspection at the Hotel Nikko which is in the same area.  VERY impressed with the hotel and especially the rooms.  Rooms are very modern with floor to ceiling windows and splashes of bold colors.  Huge breakfast buffet for $24 with American and Japanese foods... it was a great value for hot and cold choices and many of them!   I now have a new favorite at the next price point.

Another great weekend of experiences!!

 



https://www.corporatetravelagency.net/
http://sf.handlery.com/
http://www.hotelnikkosf.com/
http://www.sanfranciscobayboatcruise.com/
http://www.scomas.com/

Las Vegas Road trip

Who takes off on a motorcycle road trip in Feb???  Well, for the past 3 years it has been us.  :)  We love an adventure and love to find roads that we have yet to travel and this trip was no exception.  We take off and head to Bakersfield for the night enroute to Las Vegas.  Our Valentines dinner consisted of Hooters wings at 11pm which was exactly what we wanted.  LOL  A quick overnight in Bako and visit with an old friend and off we headed across the desert.

Our reason for Vegas was an old friends wedding.  1st wedding for my 50 yr old friend.... definitely a reason to celebrate!!  Wedding chapel in the Bellagio hotel and party bus for the reception!  What a great way to party with your friends and cheaper than buying everyone dinner!  Who would have thought that a bunch of middle aged fat people would enjoy stripper poles, 80's music, vodka cranberry and cruising the strip... well, my friends of course!  Kind of funny that our kids have done the party bus excursion but this was our 1st time.  It definitely won't be our last!
Our party bus with the Big Daddy!
http://www.partytourslasvegas.com/las-vegas-limousines.html#.UTLTSzDqmQw

We stayed at The D Hotel in downtown Vegas on the Fremont Street experience.  It used to be the Fitzgeralds Hotel and is decorated in old Las Vegas charm.  Nice rooms, comfy beds but still the old a/c and heat units and the caulking in the bathroom could use someone who prides themselves on perfectionism!  Having said that, the location is fabulous, the slots and gambling minimums are far less than what you get on the strip, and they are home to the dancing dealers.  I would definitely stay here again but it's not for everyone, but comparing $69/night to $369/night it was an easy decision for me!
http://www.thed.com/

We did try the new BurGR restaurant at Planet Hollywood.  This is Gordon Ramsey's restaurant and the food was great and the service even better!  It's exactly what you would imagine from a Gordon Ramsey restaurant.  AND you must order the truffle, parmesan french fries... they are the best in life!!
http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/restaurants/ramsay.html#.UTLT2DDqmQw

Activities in Vegas included an excursion out to Lake Las Vegas which was great to see but I was a bit disappointed that this area isn't finished in development.  We drove through Lake Mead National Park which  was beautiful scenery and ended at Hoover Dam.  The last time we were at the dam the new bridge was not complete so it was exciting to walk on the new bridge and look down (scary!) at Hoover Dam.  What an awesome sight!!  We drove over from Nevada into Arizona and then back and then went down to drive over the dam.  All these experiencing are even more awe inspiring on the bike.  Open air and sunshine!!

Our drive back to Northern California included a detour through Death Valley. So this is another place that I've always wanted to go and now cannot wait to go back.  The scenery is so dramatic.  First you go up, up, up and then down, down, down.  Sands dunes, salt flats, and tall mountains surrounding you.  It is the hottest, driest and lowest place.  It is a land of extremes.  Another national park that is awe inspiring riding on the back of the harley and being able to take it all in and put my senses on overload!  The lowest sign we saw was 190 feet below sea level, but again, I cannot wait to go back to experience all that this park has to offer!

Washington State

So Randy picks me up at the Seattle airport and we start driving east to visit an area that he had fallen in love with and wanted to share the beauty with me.  We drive over the snowy pass and end up in Eastern Washington in an area know for it's laid back way of life and outdoor activities.  Deep canyons, frozen lakes,  and dramatic landscape carved thousands of years ago from a flood and waterfalls.  Gorgeous!  Like a mini-Grand Canyon!

We stayed on Soap Lake which is a mineral lake with said healing powers.  The Notaras Lodge was our home and who would have thought that this cute log cabin hotel would be cheaper than the "nicest place" in Ephrata!  Pleasantly surprised and feeling like we found ourselves a "find"!  Each room is themed and decorated accordingly.  We stayed in the "honeymoon suite" which was a large room with straight on views of Soap Lake.  A little European charm and the bath tub offered regular water and mineral water direct from the lake.  Of course, I opted for a mineral bath and it was sooooo soft and a little treat.  The Notaras Lodge has a restaurant across the street, Don's Restaurant which we enjoyed with the company of our nephew and his girlfriend.  They also have the last Speakeasy in the state, The Soap Lake Businessman's club!

Our road trip led us taking the truck mudding and meeting new friends in the area.   We then headed up north to visit my mother in law.  Through our travels we drove through Leavenworth, WA which is the most adorable Bavarian town.  We stopped for Starbucks and I fell in love with the town.  Many cute shops, restaurants, bakeries, wineries, hotels and all with the feel of being in the alps.  Darling town at the base of snowy mountains.  The whole time I was planning a girls getaway in my head because this would be the most perfect little town to bring my girls to.

We continued up to Sumas, WA and had a quick visit with family before I flew out of Seattle and Randy continued to drive home.  Fast trip but we got alot accomplished!

Impromptu

Loving these impromptu weekend getaways!!! Last weekend Washington state and now we are in Las Vegas!! We sure play hard when Randy's home.