Travelling to Chicago

I am getting ready to travel again. I am leaving in two weeks for Chicago where I will be participating in Blogging events for both UL Laboratories and Ford and then attending BlogHer. Because one can never have too much luggage I was browsing around on the internet looking for wheeled carry on luggage.

I have a huge suitcase, but am thinking of shipping that ahead and bringing only a small Carry-On Luggage on the plane. I am staying in one hotel the first night and then switching hotels the next and it would just be easier to not worry about moving my luggage across town after attending the event on Wednesday.

This one would be perfect for my day’s worth of clothing and my laptop and all my paraphernalia.

I also drifted off and was checking out the Briefcases, which are all gorgeous. Of course I purchased a new laptop bag last year before BlogHer and it is still in fine condition, but really a girl can dream can’t she?

As long as I am dreaming would you feast your eyes on this? Gorgeous I tell you! But the day I can afford $900 for a carry on bag is the day I fly in my own private jet!

This is a sponsored post.

We'll Leave the Light On For You

For those of you familiar with the drive to and from Vegas you will understand the gravitas of this event, for those of you not, just bear with me and imagine a HUGE mountain when I say Cajon.

So, Megan and I are driving home from Vegas. Singing along with the radio, sucking down our final slushies from SOnic (sigh) and generally dreading the fact that our little vacation is over.

We have made it over 200 miles and begin the homestreach when we reach the Cajon Pass. The middle of nowhere ride. WHen suddenly I see this out of the corner of my left eye.

FUCK! I think was the first word out of my mouth. Because now we are in the Pass and there is no where to get off. I mention it to Megan and hope I don't scare the shit out of her, but really I am scared. I hate having an engine light on, it doesn't tell you it is the actual engine that is trouble, it doesn't tell you ok you have 25 miles before this sucker blows up, nothing!

Finally we get to the end of the pass and I get off the first exit that has the look of civilization, Upland. I find an auto parts store, where the guy inside informs me they are not supposed to "help" customers with their cars, but he does anyways. I won't name him or his store because I don't want him to get in trouble but if he is reading (I slipped him my card) THANK YOU! He helped me check my trans fluid and my oil. The oil was a little low so I bought some and put it in, spilling everywhere of course cuz I was too cheap to buy a funnel. no luck the light was still on. Then I patiently wait for the car to sufficiently cool to check my radiator fluid, all the while Twittering asking for advice over the interwebz. WHen I open the radiator cap (damned arthritis made it very hard to do), I see green fluid right up at the top so I assume that means it is full. I close it up and pray to the gods of cars for guidance (i.e. Twitter).

I called my local Goodyear where we have been taking all of our cars for almost 20 years and talk to a calming rational voice. First thing he says is "did you get gas recently? Are you sure the gas cap is tightened properly?" WHA? HUH? To me that was the stupidest thing, but I'll be damned if it doesn't say right on the gas cap that if it isn't tightened for 3 clicks the engine light will come on. But no that wasn't our problem.

He directs me to a local Goodyear that is getting ready to close, those wonderful men, open up my hood and start poking around. First thing they notice is that my radiator cap is not on correctly and wondered how far I drove like that. "Only a couple of miles, I swear". A couple of more and I would have had real issues because with my stupid arthritis I didn't close the damn cap all the way. Sigh

After almost 45 minutes of helping me (past closing time and FOR FREE), they ascertain that my thermostat is not opening up and ergo the car may be overheating. Of course they can't fix it right now, (The manager offered to drive us home! 75 miles!) but they help us find a local Pep Boys that can fix us tonight. YAY!

We find the Pep Boys almost by mistake, and settle in for a long wait while they fix my car. My tummy is rumbling at this point and we head off to find something to eat.

The only place within walking distance was the Rat Factory. That's right Chucky frikkin Cheese. UGH. I didn't like this place when my kids were little I can't imagine going there without any kids. Needless to say really, the pizza was Horrible the fries were gross and the only saving factor was the Diet Coke. How we longed for Sonic at that point.

They replace my thermostat and show me the crack, but inform me that my light is still on and I have to take it to my local Pep Boys in the morning to have a code pulled.

After I make them pinkie swear that my car won't blow up on the ride home (sigh), Megan and I head off home 4 hours after the initial light coming on.

Vegas With Megan

had a quick 2 day gig in Vegas last week and since Megan was staying after everyone else went home (I know I haven't actually written that post yet, just roll with me), she asked if she could come with me.


I have not been a "tourist" in Vegas in a long long time, she wore my ass (and all my other body parts) OUT!


We stayed at my favorite casino, Sam's Town, off the strip and discovered a Sonic Drive IN close by. OMG the slushie was divine and we always seemed to get there during Happy Hour when they were half off! WIN!


We went to the Ethel M chocolate factory, but unfortunately were moments too late because they had finished production for the day. We did Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, where Megan took her picture with almost every figure. We even went Downtown every evening to see the light show and eat Deep Fried Oreos. Of course what is Vegas without a stop at the M&M store, or a quick stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign? Yep, we did those as well.


It was a great trip and I am so glad to have had the chance to do it with Megan before she branches out to NYC next summer.


btw, I only played $20 the entire time we were there, I couldn't leave Vegas without playing the Great Wall of China. Balls Balls Balls!


ps the links above will take you to Flick'r picture sets of the places that were visited.

Branson by Way of Fantasy

My mom took a trip to Branson some time ago, with the bus travelling group from Holliday park. From what I can remember her telling me of it, she had a great time. My reason for always wanting to go is explained by the color purple. Purple has always been my favorite color and I think it is because Donny Osmond wore purple socks.

He and David Soul (sp.?) from Starsky and Hutch were my big childhood crushes. As an adult when I heard they ( the Osmond Brothers) would be performing in Branson, I told myself one day I would go. But it hasn't happened yet and I don't know that it ever will. Luckily Donny and Marie now perform in Vegas often and there is a much better chance of me going there at least a couple of times a year.

But play along with me as I take a fantastical trip to Branson, maybe one day it will actually happen.

We start our trip at the Hilton Promenade at Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel both of which offer guests access to shops, boutiques, restaurants, a river walk and other attractions (like the Osmond Theater). Hilton has an awesome service that I have not seen offered by other hotel chains. You can go online and order extra amenities ahead of time. I know I am going to need extra pillows, even when staying alone I need extra pillows, you can request addition towels to be placed in your room. Perhaps your flight is arriving at an innopportune time and you know you're going to be hungry? You can even make the request to have certain food items awaiting you. Planning ahead is one of my favorite travel activities (isn't that right Erika?).

Walking down the main strip you can stop in and see everything from the Titanic Museum to the American Bandstand Theater (with lunch at Dick Clark's American Grill), You can veer off over to Yakov Smirnov's Theater (how many of you are old enough to remember him?), and continue on to see the Ripleys and the Wax Museum and Finish with dinner at the Hard Luck Cafe.

Image by ishane via Flickr

Of course the Osdmonds can't be the only show we see, we will have to stay a couple of days to take in the new Peter Pan show with Cathy Rigby. And the 12 Irish Tenors show definately looks like something I would enjoy. During the day we can head over to Silver Dollar City and check out the 1880's themed attraction, take in some shopping at the ultiple outlet malls and as most of my days revolve around the eating of food, there are plenty of places to satisfy those cravings as well.

Thanks for coming along on this fantastical trip with me, hopefully one day it will no longer be "fantastical" and will actually be a reality.