slidergirl

Anita - congrats on snagging the backcountry passes!! you'll have an epic anniversary!

I didn't even realize the lavender bloom would be when i was doing my trip, it wasn't even on my radar. i happen to see somewhere that the bloom was going to be popping when i would be there. So, while I'll love seeing what I can, it won't be an 'underwhelming' activity. just driving through the countryside and visiting little villages will suffice. I got jealous at the salon today. A lady next to me, around my age, got her hair dyed flaming red with pink pieces. She started out with white/gray so it was easy to get the color in. The lady said she just got to the point where she wanted to something fun with her hair. I wish I could, but it would be a nasty process to get my color stripped out for it. Bamba taste test: The ones with dark chocolate coating were my 3rd pick - i'm just not a dark chocolate person. Second place is the plain ones - man, I could shovel those things in my mouth way too easy. First place is the hazelnut-filled ones, i'm just a sucker for that nutella!!!

I had been waiting for some of those trains just because i've done that in the past. I was shocked - even the trains that were available had just a few open seats. Should be an interesting July/August in Europe - what we used to do and wait may not work this Summer.

What a difference a day makes!! Today, it raining and getting up to maybe 63 - it's 44 now at 9:30am. It's a gray, dreary day. ugh. The one time I am going to be in Provence during the time lavender will be in bloom, it is going off early. It looks like mid-July is gong to look more like end-July, with many of the fields already done. I've got some pointers to places that track the fields, so I may have to drive a little more than I thought. oh well. Made more train reservations yesterday. The trains are filling up - I had to make a second choice on the CDG-Marseille part. ootd: my overalls and a Tshirt. I have an appointment with my hair stylist today. And, I have to make a trip to the market to pick up some milk and salad fixings.

If you are going to take a train, make those reservations as soon as you can. I just made some with SNCF for a few transports within France for July and beginning of August - filling up!! One of them that i wanted was already booked full.

That's the brand that i have my hi-tops through, a pair of slippers and a pair of sneakers. Freakin' comfy right of the box.

look at the Olu Kai website and their Kaula Pa'a Kapa espadrilles. So far, the 2 other pair of Olu kai shoes I own have nice removeable insoles. If you want something a tad "fancier" there is a pair of leather espadrilles (in black or tan), but you have to sign up to their list to get access. The cool thing about both types is that the heel folds down if you want to do a quick slide. May be worth your time to try. I may pull some of the clothes I think I want to take with me to Europe, some of the clothes to take to California with the girls and some of the clothes I'll take to PA for the wedding. At least I'll get an idea of what might have to get washed in-between trips. I have a comfy pair of joggers, a Tshirt and a hoodie I'm going to wear on the flight SLC-CDG and onto the train CDG-Marseille - 14 hours of travel... i'm just going to bring a little bag to stuff that in while i'm traveling and put it out to air before I wear it home. on the Trader Joe's front: I can't remember if I mentioned these: if you like cinnamon apple oatmeal or cinnamon apple crisp, the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bites. in the frozen section. i just pop them in my air fryer and they come out hot and yummy. Another HOT day here. Sitting here in my running shorts and a Tshirt.

Even the heat is on high up here in the mountains! I don't think I've had it so hot so early - possible 87 today and 88 tomorrow 🙀 My OOTD is my running shorts and one of my Sweaty Betty sport bras - it's just too hot for anything else. Up here, it always feels about 10 degrees warmer than the thermometer shows - it's the altitude, i think. lois - I can't believe it's been 7 months since your last cruise!! Time has flown. I loved Barcelona - how many pre-cruise days do you have there?

Glad you got a good sleep and are now on your way!! I didn't get to tell the front desk at the hilton that you had a flight disruption and ask if they had a 'distressed traveler' rate. I had a few of these and I received a little discount and i also gave a little discount to a few who were stuck and trying to stay a night at the hotel i worked at.

26 let the pre-travel anxiety start to ratchet up.

Parties in Topanga Canyon and up in the hollywood Hills. protest marches and occupation of the administration building at UCLA. The good ole' days. "What a long strange trip it's been." I'm trying to figure out what things/places I want to spend some time at next month in France and Italy. All the money i'm putting on this trip - i don't want to be underwhelmed by a pick...

The ones i have are the Stamina bra. not padded and not sheer. You do get a little bit of uniboob if you have a lot, but i don't mind. It is kind of a double fabric, but with waffle knit in places to help with heat dispersion. hard to describe. pick a color other than white on the page to better see the 'waffle'. I wore them all Summer last year, and i loved them.

I still have my stash of Ex-officio undies that I bought for a trip back in 2009. I only use them for travel so they will last in case they stop making them. My everyday jockey microfiber undies dry overnight, too. I don't have a "quick dry' bra. I usually take 3 non-wire bras with me so I will have a dry one while others are in drying process. I've got a few Sweatty Betty pullover bras that I like and really don't take up much room.

Don't leave out the 'non-nicer' places to eat!!! That's usually my thing for lunch. Many times the best food is found at those little places. Sometimes I'll do the nice place for lunch if it is more affordable than doing dinner here. But, like marazul, enjoy a relaxing meal. Get the aperitivo, get the wine, eat some food.

I am the old hippie lady. BUT the now-ex was into punk... let's say the parties were, interesting...

You have to remember that the test is only a snapshot of your COVID status at that moment that the swap or saliva sample is taken. You could test in an hour and maybe pop positive. I wish they would require your vax card (Not a copy) and if you don't have THEN you get tested. just a little punitive measure for not vaxing..

i knew I forgot something we talked about. And, definitely no pickle lemonade, but jalapeño limeade is ok.

Let's hear it for Sid Vicious! I can drive to Vegas in 5-6 hours or a little over an hour flight. Sometimes I need a fix of good food outside of the small offerings up here. And, Lee's Discount Liquor to stock up on those things that our State Stores here in UT don't offer. And, the beach at Mandalay Bay: nothing like spending a birthday at the beach, in a cabana, with your own Cabana Boy to ply you with drinks and put sunscreen on your back 😸 Everyone should go to the Neon sign graveyard - it's a very interesting trip into the history of Las Vegas. Oh, for the Sex Pistols concerts - i already have my safety pin earrings ready to go...

TJ's seems to have a lot of seasonal items. Sometimes they have a 'month' of special things. It's part of the reason i like shopping there. Looks like they are on the dill pickle kick - the seasoning, the potato chips, the mustard, etc.

I had a running commentary from my ENT. He showed me the 'replay' so he could stop and point out things. But he was commenting all the time on the 'real time' exploration. It was interesting to see my little spur in my nose vs the same spot in the other nostril. The voice box to the top of the esophagus was really impressive - it was so clear. i should have asked for a still photo of it! Watched the hearing also. Scary and surprising and disgusting. I still think that, while everyone needs to hear all about this, it will end with nothing being done. Just the feeling I have. It'll be buried like the Mueller Report ☹️ I did a little mix of the Jalapeño Limeade with some rum last night. i'll say it works much better with vodka...i have to say that having my little BlendJet is so nice for a quick mixing of a 'slushy", it's better than just having the drink over ice. I'm stuck in my house today - the HOA is having our potholes and cracks filled and fixed. My block is today, so no driving on the street. that's ok as i didn't have anything planned. so ootd is just some running shorts & a tank since it's going to be hot.

It just changed. CDC announced today, 6/10, that the US will no longer require the COVID test prior to boarding a plane home to the US starting on Monday, 6/13. Now, if your flight stops somewhere before the US or you change planes, please keep checking on what requirements your intermediate airport needs.

Coming back to the US you will not have to get that COVID test as of Monday, June 13, just announced by the CDC. Don't have to worry about finding that testing spot within 24 hours of departure.

It depends. remember that you don't have to order something from each course! I plan my trips around having nice meals a good number of times. The trip i'm taking in a few weeks (a month between France & Italy) i've been researching places to eat more than places to see. i'm more of a "wanderer" than a "scheduler". i will pick one thing/place that I want to see and then spend the rest of the day just wandering around and taking in the scene. It took me multiple trips to Rome before I actually visited the Vatican museums. I happened upon the Colosseum doing a wander. i'm a bit different from the usual, I guess.

@cruisemom42; hey, what's wrong with a lot of food??? 😉

Blueberry cheese - now I know which one. Dill pickle - they have a bunch of things done 'dill' this season. Did you pick up the seasoning so you can go dill?? Never thought of falafel before, but I do like them, just never picked up at TJ's. As for the sparse shelves - it's like that at both of the TJ's here in the Valley. probably get replenished by the same delivery trucks. Oh, the spicy mango drink in the refrigerated dairy/fruit juices section is actually spicy mango lemonade. it's excellent blended up with Tito's and some ice. i might try it with some rum tonight. my weirdness - i got to watch the video of the scopes going up my nose and down to my esophagus. Very interesting!! he showed me where that cartilege spur is, and the vocal chords and top of the esophagus, Really clear photos. ootd; another warm day - up to 80 late afternoon. have to go into town to pick up a prescription, so i think it'll be my overalls and a sleeveless T. Those overalls may be my favorite thing to wear this summer!