London Trip Day 5: Another Day Another Castle (June 6, 2011)
And we are on the road again. After a day of lying around the hotel, watching tennis, and resting we hit the road again. We ended up waking up at around 11 AM again and we all are not sure what is making us so tired.
Today's adventure took us to Windsor Castle a 30-mile drive outside the city of London. This is by far the shortest road trip we have taken thus far. We made it to Windsor right after lunchtime and were able to find parking relatively easy. We still had a pretty lengthy walk from where we parked up to the Castle that was perched on the hill. On our walk we walked through the downtown area lined with shops, restaurants, and all sorts of different things.
Literally within a few steps of reaching the downtown area we came across a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream place, which is Jenn's favorite. Before we went there though Jenn and I picked up a quick lunch at the place right across from it. I had a pepperoni pizza and Jenn had blue berry muffins and wedge fries. From there we stopped at Ben and Jerry's and she got a Hot Chocolate and a Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Getting a Quick Bite to Eat in Windsor
We then made our way up the hill and through security and in Windsor Castle. Probably even more so then Dover Castle, Windsor Castle is extremely spread out. We started off in the bottom area where the gardens are and then worked our way up. The Windsor Castle is a complete opposite of what we saw in Dover as well. Where Dover was a defensive castle, Windsor is much more of a "show" castle. In fact we were told that the Queen was there earlier in the day and would be holding a big event there the following week.
Beautiful Gardens Right Inside Windsor Castle
Jenn and Her Dad In Front of Windsor Castle
The Beautiful Windsor Castle
We spent around two hours going in and out of the many different buildings. The weather was cool and overcast which made walking around all that much easier. We all enjoyed our time at the Windsor Castle but all agreed that Dover was much more of an interesting castle to look at. After we got done with touring the castle we made our way out of the castle and down back to Ben and Jerry's so this time Jenn could get her ultimate favorite strawberry shake.
We Couldn't Get the Guard to Laugh
The Grass is So Green
Jenn is in Heaven
At this point it was almost 5 PM so we jumped back in the VW Golf and headed back to London. We hit a bit more congestion coming back to the hotel but still nothing in comparison to the past few major road trips. When we got back to the hotel we put away our stuff and headed out to dinner. The first choice for dinner wasn't open until 7 PM and the other wasn't open on Mondays so we decided to go to another Pub that was a great choice. I went with an Amstel and Fish and Chips that was great. Jenn had a rib eye steak with fries and was in heaven and Jenn's dad got a burger that actually looked pretty good for London standards. It was a really good and relaxing meal and by far the best pub food we have had.
Amstel...Mmmmm.....
My Fish and Chips
A Nice Piece of Meat
Nice Looking Burger
At that point we were all pooped out and called it a day. It was really nice to have a break in the long drives and just do a quick up and back trip. Tomorrow Jenn and I are going back to the place we got engaged and have reservations for dinner at the same place we were supposed to eat the night we got engaged so we are really excited about that. We are coming down to the last few days of the trip so let's make sure to make them count!
London Trip Day 4: London’s Rain is Falling Down (June 5, 2011)
After two straight days of road trips, today marked the first in which we stayed in. For good measure to as it rained for the majority of the day. Jenn and I ended up waking up at around 11 AM and started to get ready. Our original plan was to go tour Wimbledon but with the weather and feeling like we all needed a break it ended up being a rest day.
For some reason I thought for sure I saw a Burger King right around the corner from us on one of our walks and thought that would be a perfect quick meal for lunch. So Jenn and I headed out at around 1:30 to go in search of it and bring it back to watch the French Open Final with Jenn's dad. After an hour of walking in about a mile radius we confirmed there was not a Burger King so we made it back to her dad's room and ordered room service. Jenn and I split a burger and fries and her dad got a chicken sandwich and bruschetta.
Come On Federer You Can Take Nadal!
We did stay and watch almost the entire Nadal v Federer final but when it looked like Nadal had it won in the 4th Set we turned it off. We did however go downstairs to the free business center and purchase tickets to go see Lion King (the musical) on Wednesday June 8th at 7:30 PM in the front row. It should be a pretty fun musical to see
Gloomy Day in London
Once dinnertime rolled around (7PM) we went to the local Lots Road Pub and had dinner, well sort of. Jenn only had a roasted tomato soup with a chocolate brownie w/ vanilla ice cream and her dad got bread and butter and a toffee brownie with ice cream. I on the other hand ate dinner and had the same soup as Jenn as well as a sausage and potatoes main course. I also went with the waiter’s suggestion on a beer, which was the same that they supposedly served at the Royal Wedding and it was good but not great a little darker then I prefer.
Jenn's Soup
Good Beer, Just Not My Favorite
Sausage and Potatoes
Jenn's Dads Dinner
After that we called it a night. It was a really simple and relaxing day. The trip will regain some momentum tomorrow when we head off to see Windsor Castle a short 30-mile drive from our hotel. Let's just hope the weather holds out for the rest of the trip.
London Trip Day 3: Is it a Slight Left or a Slight Right? (June 4, 2011)
After a fantastic day exploring Stonehenge and Bath you always have to wonder how your going to top it the next day. I ended up getting woken up at around 10 AM from Jenn bright eyed and ready to make the day’s journey to Dover. We ended up heading out from the hotel at around 11 to make the 80-mile drive.
Today started very different then the last. The directions took us the complete opposite direction we had traveled the last two days. Instead of taking a few streets and hitting a motorway, we ended up going through side streets for an hour or so weaving our way in and out of roundabouts and slights lefts and rights. The Garmin GPS we were provided with our rental was nearly useless. There were more times then I could count that the GPS would say take a slight left and Jenn would say its wrong take a right and 99% of the time Jenn was right. We ended up tuning out the GPS voice directions and just went based off the map.
Around 45 minutes into the drive I thought it would be a good idea to stop at a gas station and fill up. Jenn's Dad went into pay and put down 20 pounds and I picked up a Red Bull and a Twix Bar. When Jenn's dad was filling up the car he just let the pump go past the 20 he paid for and it ended up at around 29 pounds. So we didn't think much of it and were about ready to leave when the gas station attendant ran out after us hitting the car asking why we were stealing from him. We got it resolved paid the difference and headed on our way.
Once we got through the winding roads of central London and hit the motorway the rest of the drive to Dover was pretty straightforward. We did stop at a McDonalds right outside of Dover for a pit stop and lunch. Jenn got a hamburger and fries, I got the big mac and fry combo, and Jenn's dad just did fries. All agreed it tasted literally identical to the US, however my Coke tasted awful.
Eating Some McDonalds in Dover
We ended up making it into Dover at around 2PM. Our main goal was to see the white cliffs of Dover and then head back to Leeds Castle. However while we were driving towards the coast we came across the Dover Castle and we all three quickly agreed to go check it out. So we parked, took a short bus up to the castle and spent the next 2-3 hours walking around the massive defensive castle.
Just Parked at the Dover Castle
From the moment we got out of the bus you could see everyone’s eyes light up. Unlike many castles we have seen in the past this one was still in amazing shape. One of the things Jenn and I both loved was walking through all of these Medieval tunnels throughout the bottom of castle. What was really neat to about Dover Castle is that it has been used for so many different time periods whether it was hundreds of years ago or as a defensive strategy base in WWII. The castle itself was gorgeous and worth the trip. We joked that you can always tell places we like by how many pictures we take and I would say between the three of us we took over 300 pictures during our time at the Dover Castle.
Side of Dover Castle
Jenn Looking Gorgeous at Dover Castle
Sitting on the Steps at the Front of the Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Another View of the Dover Castle
Jenn Looking Amazing In the Tunnels of Dover Castle
I Really Wanted to Take the Sword and Shield Home With Me
Another Shot of the Front of the Dover Castle
White Cliffs of Dover
We got done with the Dover Castle at around 4:30 and realized there was no way we were going to make it to Leeds Castle before it closed at 5 so we headed back for our hotel. The drive home was far smoother then the way out that morning and we made it back within an hour and a half.
Driving Back From Dover
When we got back to the hotel we parked the car and walked over to this Italian Restaurant that we had scouted out a few nights before. We all split a bottle of white wine, Jenn had a cheese pizza, I had a pepperoni and peppers pizza, and Jenns dad got a ham pizza. Jenn and her dad once again got ice cream for desert. It was one of the better meals I have had in London and one that I wouldn't be surprised if we eat at again before the trip is over.
Delicious Pizza Place Down the Street From Our Hotel
We Downed That Wine Quick
Ham Pizza
Cheese Pizza
Hot Pepper Pizza
The day itself was perfect. Sometimes the best times are those that are not planned and today was a perfect example. The original plan was to spend a few minutes checking out the White Cliffs of Dover and heading back to Leeds Castle however we were all so happy that we got to spend the day at Dover Castle.
London Trip Day 2: Stonehenge Rocks! (June 3, 2011)
After a very smooth first day of the trip we were ready to head out to our first road trip. We ended up waking up at around 10 AM London Time and were on the road by noon.
Getting to Stonehenge from London is about a 90-mile drive but the majority of the time is spent just getting through the city and onto the motorway (freeway). Our drive to Stonehenge was pretty uneventful except for having to find a quick pit stop in the middle of nowhere.
We made it to Stonehenge at around 1 PM and it was a picture perfect day. One of the first things we all agreed upon at arrival was how much smaller the rocks were from what they look like on TV and in Pictures. It was still a really neat experience to be able to see one of the most unusual stops on our trips. Obviously once you have walked around it once there isn't a ton left to do there nor is there anything in the surrounding area of Stonehenge so we paid the admission, walked around the sight, and were off.
Just Arriving at Stonehenge
Walking Around Stonehenge
A Great View of Stonehenge
Jenn Gives a Thumbs Up For Stonehenge
Jenn Loves All of the Sheep In the Background
They did have a small cafe at the entrance and Jenn and I got lunch there. I originally ordered a slice of pizza they were out, then I ordered quiche, and they were out, so I got a sausage roll and Jenn got a piece of shortbread. Mine was one of the worst things I have ever eaten in my life and Jenn's was pretty plain but at least was edible.
From there we headed to Bath to see the Roman Baths a 30 minute drive and from many people a must stop. The drive to Bath was absolutely gorgeous, some of the prettiest countryside you could imagine. Rolling green hills, tall trees, roaming animals, the whole bit. Having done little to no research on the city of Bath we all had very little in way of expectations. However it was one of the most beautiful cities I have visited in Europe. There is a beautiful river the cuts straight through the downtown area with a stone bridge.
We got into town right around 4 PM and we knew the museum for the Roman Baths closed at 5 so we had to hustle to find a parking spot. We found one and Jenn was smart enough to ask if we were allowed to park there which we weren't but we found out about a parking lot a bit down the road so I drove us down there and we walked up the heart of the city.
- Walking into the city of Bath
Jenn and I in front of River Within Bath
The Beautiful River Within the City of Bath
The Roman Baths museum was a bit of a letdown. Jenn had expected there to be much more beauty and ancient baths but instead there is the main center bath which was filled with an off green tinted water and the rest were unfilled and not all that interesting to look at. When we were getting our tickets the lady had mentioned that the average person takes around 1 hr. and 15 mins to get through the entire museum. Rounding up I think we spent 20 minutes.
Right In Front of Roman Baths
Roman Baths
After the short trip to the museum we wandered through the beautiful city. We didn't want to walk around for to long, as the drive back was a good 2+ hour trek. We did however stop for some delicious ice cream at this cart on our way back to the car. Jenn got literally 5 scoops of this strawberry ice cream and it was some of the best ice cream I have ever eaten.
Jenn Takes Yet Another Stunning Shot
A Great View of the River Within The City of Bath
Jenn Plowing Through Her Strawberry Ice Cream
We made our way back to the car and headed back for London. Once we got out of the city of Bath and onto the motorway Jenn fell asleep and I listened to UK Sports Talk (AM Radio) listening for updated on the French Open. We made it back to our hotel safe and sound at around 8PM. We ended up eating dinner at the hotels restaurant and were completely under dressed. Jenn got her typical Spaghetti Bolognase; I got Fish and Chips, and her dad a small roasted chicken. I did manage to get a glass of Pinot Grigio and they had a chef's special of roasted ham meat with a nut bread that was delicious.
Chef's Special
It Taste Like Chicken
Jenn's Go To Order
Delicious Fish and Chips
When Jenn was planning out our trip it was days like these that I was really looking forward to. If we do hold the course it looks like we have a few more "road trip days" and then a few days to spend in London. Let's hope they all can match up to the great day today.
London Trip Day 1: Crisis Averted (June 1st – June 2nd 2011)
And so it begins; another adventure through the great unknown. Or in this case a trip over the pond to London for eight days of exploration. The trip to London started easy enough. Jenn and I worked a half-day, and Jenn's Dad picked us up at our apartment and we headed down to LAX for our non-stop flight to Heathrow airport.
The trip down to LAX was smooth, you can never complain when traffic is moving especially the closer you get to LA. We all carried on so we printed our boarding passes ahead of time and made our way straight to security. We were a little over zealous and passed by all of the good eateries and made our way to the gate. Our flight was delayed a half-hour but we made that time up and some in the air. The flight itself was smooth. It seems like the more we fly these 10-hour flights the easier it is to deal with them.
Hanging Out at the Airport Waiting For Our Flight
Leading up the trip Jenn told me that she had five our six movies lined up to watch on the trip and I even spouted off a few. However we both only got through one (Just Go With It) and either slept or stared off hoping to sleep. The flight came and went and 9 1/2 hours later we reached London Heathrow and made our way through customs and off to the bus to take us to the car rental agency.
We Knew We Were Close When We Saw This Sign
After a lot of deliberation in the "trip planning" we decided to rent a car and tour England rather then retrace our steps on past trips. When we got to the car rental agency (Sixt) I was told that because I am 24 (not 25) I would not be able to rent the BMW 1 Series that I had reserved. So instead we got a less expensive VW Golf and a Garmin GPS. It was a quick inconvenience but we got keys to the Golf (sporting only 600 miles of use) and took off. Having driven on the wrong side of the road before (Scotland on our Honeymoon) I volunteered to take the wheel with Jenn taking shotgun and her dad in the backseat still a bit out of it from the long flight.
Tour of Our Room (Room # 401)
I somehow managed to get us to our hotel, the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour in one piece. In all honesty though the Scotland driving did very little to prepare me for maneuvering downtown London with its crazy drivers and all to common "round a bouts."
Front of the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour
When we got to the hotel our room was ready however Jenn's dads wasn't. We dropped off our luggage in our room and headed to the lounge for a late lunch. Jenn got Pasta Bolognase (it wouldn't be right any other way), I got a Club Sandwich with a beer, and Jenn's dad got a chicken sandwich. Not only was the lounge extremely relaxing but it was reasonably priced and the food was actually quite tasty.
From there we got the keys to Jenn's Dads hotel room that he received an upgrade on with a harbor view and a balcony. At first he wasn't all that stoked about being on the 1st floor but when he saw the room he let the front desk know he was happy. We went our separate ways to unpack and unwind for a few minutes when we got a call from Jenn's dad that his camera was not powering on. He had just bought a brand new Canon DSLR with extended battery pack and neither his standard battery nor the extra pack were working. So we went down to the concierge asked where a local camera shop was. We were told there was one that was only down the street a 15 minute walk. After a good 30 minute walk we made it down to Jacobs Camera Shop where we found that his camera was still working but just needed a recharge in all of his batteries. Crisis averted.
Walking Back From the Camera Shop
On our way back we stopped at a local Italian Restaurant where for the first half hour we were the only ones there. Jenn's dad had a glass of Pinot Grigio and Lobster Pasta, Jenn got a filet of beef, and I got rigatoni pasta. Jenn and her dad both got ice cream for dessert and I went with a cappuccino just trying to find anyway to stay awake for the walk back to the hotel.
- Happy to Have a Working Camera
Jenn Loves Her Steak
Rigatoni Pasta
Would You Like a Lobster With That Pasta?
Although first days are never usually the highlight of the trip this was a great way to start our adventure in London.
Looking Into a Few New Pocket Digital Cameras
In a few months Jenn and I along with her Dad will be taking a journey across the pond to Europe and I really don't want to bring our Canon DSLR along with us. Why you ask? Well for one reason, its bulky. There were so many times when Jenn and I were in Barcelona last year that I just got tired of lugging the camera with lenses around. Sure it takes breathtaking pictures, but I barely know how to do any of the ultra photo nerd stuff that would make it worthwhile to take the big camera along. However now comes the inevitable search for a new pocket camera that is both small enough to fit in my pocket (hint the name) but that's going to take awesome shots.
Here are the cameras I am looking at:
Sony TX9
I really like that this camera is ultra thin, touch screen, and has a 14 mega pixel lens. I do worry however that I have never fell in love with a touch screen that wasn't made by Apple. I also like that the camera takes 720p video which although I will probably use my Flip HD for video on the trip, it is nice to have regardless. I have to admit though looking at this camera it is pretty sweet looking and I had a ton of luck with my current pocket Sony camera. It looks as though it will cost around $250 or so.
Canon S95
I currently own a Canon Rebel XS DSLR and love it. Although of course I am buying a new camera because I don't want to carry it around on the trip. I like that the Canon S95 is just a pure digital camera. It has a lot of the advanced features if I ever want to use them, but it is just a pure high quality digital camera. I like that I don't have to worry about the touch screen, but it also is a bit more advanced then I need in a pocket camera. It looks like the average price is a bit on the top of the pocket camera scale of $350 but it looks like a beast of a camera.
Those are the two cameras that I have narrowed my search on for now. I also know that I will be bringing my now outdated original iPad along with me and will pick up one of those Apple Camera Connection kits so I can backup my photos as the day goes along.
So I will continue to do more research and price surfing until I come across the perfect pocket camera for the trip.
Moving Back to Newport is Oh So Sweet
It's been a few months since I last posted and instead of going into reasons why, let's keep moving forward. One of the big events of the past couple of months is Jenn and I moving back to Newport Beach. When we moved to Irvine a year ago it was to make room for our new puppy which we of course ended up not keeping. So when our lease was coming up we looked back into coming back to our old apartment complex in Newport Beach. This time however instead of getting a 1 bedroom we upped it a bit and went to a 2nd bedroom unit. Now three weeks after we moved in we are absolutley loving it. Although the place is still a bit of a ways away from being fully furnished Jenn has done an amazing job putting it together.
Check out a few videos we have taken of our new place:
Our Initial Walk Through of our Place
A Few Weeks Later With Jenn, Jake, and Amy
A Look Back at the Year That Was 2010
“And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days” - Goo Goo Dolls
2010 was a year unlike any other I have ever experienced; and in many respects hope not to experience again. To classify the whole year as a “bad year” would be far from the truth because it wasn’t all bad, in fact much of it was great. However there were moments in 2010 that all we could do is pray for better days.
2010 started off exactly how 2009 ended which was great. Jenn and I were in a groove, she was working close to home, we both were doing well at work, and were enjoying married life. Of course it didn’t hurt that Jenn was cruising around town in her new BMW which to this day she still loves.
I will never forget a night in mid-February. I was playing a video game in the family room, and Jenn was on her laptop in the bedroom surfing vacation deals online. I remember Jenn yelling to me saying “you have to check out this deal I found”. Within an hour, maybe two, we had booked an entire week vacation to Barcelona, Spain through an amazing British Airways deal. This was the sort of vacation that Jenn and I always talked about before we got married. Booking last minute trips and just going wherever we decided to go.
We left for Barcelona on March 3rd and came back on March 10th. It was truly an amazing trip. We stayed half of the trip in a beautiful hill top hotel, and the second half in the city. We were fortunate enough to be in the city during a snow storm which was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Barcelona as a city wasn’t our favorite European destination but had a great time taking in all of the beautiful landmarks and enjoying the amazing cuisine.
Barcelona Trip 2010
Right after we got back from Barcelona we went with Jake and Amy for a full day Disneyland adventure. It's one of those places that's near impossible not to have a great time at. Plus living within 10-20 minutes of Disneyland makes using an annual pass even better.
Disneyland Trip 2010 with Jake & Amy
One of the big decisions we made in 2010 was to get a puppy. To prepare for this we packed up our stuff and moved from our 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in Newport Beach to a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom town-home in Irvine. The move was as smooth as you would hope and the transition to the townhome was seamless.
We picked up our puppy (Bentley) in late March. At the same time Jenn’s job moved her from 10-15 minute commute to an hour plus. We realized within a few days that our current working life was in no way going to allow us to take care of our adorable Bentley. We returned Bentley to the kennel which we purchased him from and found out a week or so later that another family had purchased him. Since then I have talked to the new owners and hear he is doing great. It was an extremely tough decision, in some respects devastating, but the right decision.
Jenn & Bentley the Puppy
In mid-April my whole family went up to San Louis Obispo, California for a huge surprise. My dad arranged a rather elaborate plan to take my mom up there for the weekend to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. What my mom didn’t know was that the whole trip was actually a surprise renewal of their vows. It was a really awesome experience, and pretty incredible to see my parents make good on something they told us they were going to do growing up which was renew their vows on their 25th wedding anniversary.
My Parents Renewing Their Vows
May of 2010 was sort of the calm before the storm. It was really a pretty normal month. We went down to Pasadena with Jenn’s parents to the Gold Class Cinema which are these high class movie theaters with loungers and food service. Jenn and her mom saw Sex and the City 2 and her Dad and I saw Prince of Persia. In all honesty the food was better then the movies, but the experience was pretty incredible.
Later in the month we said goodbye to one of our favorite shows on TV, Lost. Jenn and I were late to the party; we watched the first five seasons during the time between the Season 5 finale and the season premiere of Season 6. We were hooked. We of course said goodbye to the show by throwing a mini finale party which was fun. If your curious I loved the finale, Jenn liked it but wasn’t as thrilled as I was with it.
On the first week of June I found out that I was being promoted to a Business Analyst 2. Jenn and I went out and celebrated the same way we did when I first got the job by having an amazing dinner at Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Irvine. It was sort of surreal that a year and half after getting the job we got something to celebrate again.
Later in the month we spent two nights down at the Hyatt Grand Champions in Indian Wells, CA in a one bedroom casita. In 2008 we had stayed in a 2 bedroom casita and I had posted a YouTube video on our room. Hyatt contacted me and thanked me for the video by giving me two free nights to come back and enjoy the resort again. We used this time to unwind and enjoy the very hot desert sun. We ate some great food, saw Toy Story 3, and lay by the pool drinking pina coladas. It was a perfect quick getaway.
I have always been a big fan of water parks, but no one else seems to share my enthusiasm. I did however get Jenn, Jake, and Amy to accompany me to Wild Rivers in Irvine for a day of water slide enjoyment. If it was my choice we would have stayed all day, but the three out voted me and we spent a good 5 hours enjoying the many different slides the park had to offer.
Later in the month we took a road trip out to Arizona for my Grandma’s wedding and also to R&R once again in the desert sun. We had a nice time out in Phoenix/Tucson, outside of the wedding we spent the majority of the time just relaxing and enjoying our surroundings. If we thought it was hot out in Indian Wells, it was even warmer out in Arizona.
Phoenix Trip 2010
Something Jenn and I have always loved is going to see plays. When we moved out to Orange County we kind of got away from it, mainly because we weren’t sure where to go. That all changed in August when we got the theater bug again starting with In the Heights at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. By the time the year was done we saw a total of 5 plays by the time the year was out and I would predict just as many in 2011.
Off to See In The Heights at OCPAC
From this point to the New Year, it feels like everything was going 200 mph. On Labor Day weekend we decided to once again take up the idea of just getting up and going somewhere, but this time we were off to Las Vegas. We spent two nights out there at the Trump hotel. This was by far the most fun “mini vacation” we have had in our short married life. We saw The Beatles Love Circus du Soleil at The Mirage which was incredible. We also gambled a bit, ate some great food, and spent time at the pool.
Vegas Trip 2010 @ The Trump
It was only two weeks later Jenn and I hit our first big milestone as a married couple, our one year anniversary. We celebrated it at the Terranea Resort in Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA which was a gorgeous resort. I had done some pre-planning for the big day so I got us dinner reservations at The Chart House which was great. When we got back from dinner I had the concierge decorate our room with rose pedals, chocolates, and a big Happy 1st Anniversary sign in the room. We had a wonderful time at the resort and celebrating our first amazing year as a married couple.
Our 1 Year Wedding Anniversary at the Terrenea Resort
October ended up being a crazy month. The month started off with great news, Jenn got promoted to a Project/Program Analyst 3 which was great. We went and celebrated at Pascal’s a French restaurant down at Fashion Island. It was a very well deserved promotion and it was something we were both super excited for.
A few days later I was fortunate enough to launch the newest version of Darkstation.com, which was a much needed upgrade. The system is now running on the very reliable WordPress and just looks a lot cleaner then the site ever has. We have already started to see a huge improvement in visitors and in the feedback from fans of the site which has been great. The transition to the new site wasn’t perfect, but I can happily say that we are now up and running at 100% and doing great.
The New Darkstation.com
It was only a week later that I got a call from my parents while eating dinner at Panera by our townhome that my Dad had been diagnosed with a tumor in his brain and they were going to need to do emergency surgery. The next week or two was literally a blur. Jenn and I rushed down to Riverside and only a day or two later he was in an all day surgery. It was an extremely stressful couple of weeks but the good news is that as of right now he is on the road to recovery and doing really well.
With all the stress we were even more excited to take a break from it all and spend a week out in Cancun, Mexico. We stayed at one of the nicest resorts I have ever stayed at in the Excellence Playa Mujeres. The resort was all inclusive and we really used up as much of it as we possibly could. One of the best moments of the trip was when we went ziplining and off-roading at an adventure park called Xplor. It was so nice to just sit back and let loose again.
Jenn and I at The Excellence Playa Mujeres
When we got back from Cancun we settled in for the holidays. We went to go see Peter Pan in a theater in a round setup which had rave reviews but we didn’t care for it all that much. We spent Thanksgiving morning with Jenn’s parents and the afternoon with mine. It was really nice to spend the time with family and to be able to just relax.
It was only a week later that we all found out the worst news of our lives. On December 3, 2010 Jenn’s mom passed away at home in her bed. As you may remember reading from last years “year in review”, Jenn’s mom has been battling lung cancer for the past two years and had been winning the battle. She was an amazing lady. My fondest memories of her were anytime we were doing something competitive. I remember the first time I played Monopoly with Jenn’s family and her dad bowed out quickly and Jenn and her Mom trying to team up to eventually beat me. In fact now that I think of it I don’t think I ever beat her in anything, that’s probably why she wrote “winner” on any e-mail or card she sent me.
She was an extraordinary woman, full of life, full of hope, and full of joy. From the moment I met her we always clicked, and she always made me feel like part of the family. She was always an amazing supporter of both Jenn and I and rooted us along the way. I look back at the 7+ years I knew Jenn’s Mom and I just look back and know I am a better person for having known her and been around her. I know I speak on behalf of both Jenn and I when I say we miss her deeply but cannot wait to see her again in heaven.
It was only a week later that the load continued to build as we had to put down Jenn's parents dog Sparky. There was a day or two where it just didn't feel like things would ever get better.
The year ended out kind of as you would expect after reading about our last few months, a bit numb. It’s one of those feelings where there is so much grief, so much emotion, that it’s hard to even know where to begin. We celebrated Christmas at my parent’s house which was a lot of fun, and enjoyed the rest of the day at our town-home, concluding it with the family tradition of watching National Lampoons Christmas vacation.
Decorating the Christmas Tree in 2010
This year had a few of those days that you pray never happen. We all know we are going to have those days but no matter what you do you’re never prepared for them. When it's all said and done there is nothing we can do but look forward to a much better 2011.
Cancun Trip 2010 Day 6 (November 11th, 2010): Burn Baby Burn
It was a day of pure adventure, then a day of pure relaxation, what would our last day hold? The answer was by far the most beautiful day of the trip. We woke up to clear skies and the sun shining brightly. We tried to call for room service but our phone wasn’t cooperating so we went to the Toscana restaurant for breakfast, which was surprisingly really good. Jenn had waffles and I had a mimosa with a ham cheese and jalapeño omelet.
Right after breakfast we headed straight down to the beach for some sun and boy did we get sun. While down at the beach we ordered drinks, Jenn got another Pina Colada and I had the drink of the day that they called an ocean breeze. I literally was getting so fried that I took a walk back to the room to get away from the sun and came back down a few minutes later to get more sun with Jenn.
A Look Out to the Ocean
Literally after four or five hours down in the blazing sun Jenn through in the towel and we headed over the lazy rivers. Jenn more then I needed to cool down and the lazy rivers finally heated up and felt great. We rafted around for a good or hour or two just relaxing and enjoying some relief from the sun. After the lazy river we headed back up to the room and ordered room service. I got another Philly Cheesesteak (loved these) with a few Coronas and Jenn had Pasta Bolognase and a ton of water.
The Beach Area at the Excellence Playa Mujeres
After lunch the battle between the sun and Jenn was over and the sun had turned out being victorious. Literally within a few minutes of finishing lunch Jenn fell asleep and took a good three-hour nap while I watched TV, played on the iPad, and read my book Play Dead by Harlan Coben.
When Jenn finally arose from her slumber she was the most red I have ever seen her. I ran down to the gift shop and picked up some over priced Aloe Vera to try to relieve some of the pain. Given her massive burn we decided that it would not be smart to go out and hit the restaurants so we decided to stay in and it turned out to be one of the best meals of the trip. Jenn got her Mahi Mahi, which she has loved all trip. I got Ajillo Shrimp and Beef Tenderloin with two glasses of sparkling white wine. It wasn’t long after dinner that I finished packing for two of us and Jenn supervised from the bed in discomfort from her serious sunburn.
Our Last Dinner at the Excellence Playa Mujeres
We did manage to go upstairs on our terrace and once again enjoy a beautiful night under the stars and it was a great time to reflect on what was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations either of us have ever been on.
Cancun Trip 2010 Day 5 (November 10th, 2010): We Feel Young Again
After what was a very crazy adventure yesterday both Jenn and I slept like babies. When we woke up we saw to us Southern Californians looked like a torrential downpour. So instead of rushing outside we went back to sleep and continued to try and recover from the previous days festivities. At around 9am in the morning we woke up ordered breakfast.
This morning I had a bagel with cream cheese and Jenn had pancakes with bacon. As we were eating breakfast we realized that today would actually be a perfect day to go to the spa. Originally we had booked it for our last day (tomorrow) but we decided while it was raining we might as well go get our couples massage. Jenn called down to the spa, they said no problem and got us in for a noon appointment, although we were told to come an hour early for our “hydrotherapy” treatment.
The Outside of the Spa
When we arrived at the spa we got into our bathing suits and were directed to the spa area to begin our hydrotherapy. We started off with five minutes in the sauna that felt great and then were directed to go take a quick dip in a freezing (no exaggeration) pool of water jump out and go into the small very warm pool of water. We then went into the main spa area to have a series of hydrotherapy jets for five minutes each. What we both thought would just be lounging around in the spa actually turned out to be extremely relaxing and felt great. The last ten minutes we got an upper neck and shoulder massage and were then instructed to get in our robes and go to the relaxation room.
Inside the Spa!
The relaxation room was a large circular room with about six or eight chase’s and very soothing music. After waiting around five minutes one of our masseuse came in and took us to a very large couples room. We got ready on the massage beds and fifty minutes later we both felt like new. Jenn who has had a lot more experience in massages then I have said, “best massage ever” and I tend to agree, it was incredible.
I Feel Young Again!
As we left the spa with champagne in hand the sun was shinning and there was literally not a cloud in the sky. We went back up to the room ordered lunch, Jenn had Mahi Mahi and I got a club sandwich and we spent the rest of the afternoon laying out and enjoying what was left of the beautiful day.
For dinner we went to the restaurant called Lobster House that you guessed it specializes in lobster. Jenn got a Pina Colada with the Excellence Shrimp (garlic shrimp) and I got Clam Chowder (very running) and Lobster with Chipotle Butter (one of the fishiest lobsters I have ever eaten) and a glass of chardonnay. It was one of the worst meals we had at the Excellence Playa Mujeres, which was a disappointment; given how much I love lobster.
The Entrance to The Lobster House
Regardless we did not let that ruin our evening so we went over to one of the nicest bars at the resort, The Martini Bar. Jenn started off by polishing off a Cosmo and finished it off with an Espresso Martini. I have to say the Espresso Martini was one of the best drinks I have ever had. I started off with an Old Fashion and finish off with a dry gin martini. We spent a lot of time just enjoying our drinks at the bar and just talking about the eventful week we had thus far.
Jenn and I at The Martini Bar
Enjoying a Dry Martini
After we polished off our drinks we went and played Ping Pong but I had so much to drink that Jenn worked me easily. It literally was an embarrassment to ping pong players everywhere. We went back to the room and spent a majority of the rest of the night on the second floor balcony laying out under the stars and enjoying every moment of it.