A whirlwind road trip to San Antonio over the weekend. Included a visit to Sea World San Antonio to swim with the dolphins and have dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Then, same day, with a late night birthday bash for a dear friend of ours. And now we’re back home and wondering, did that really even just happen? ha!
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Filed under Best Husband, I did something Special, I Left Home for Awhile, I Stimulate the Economy, Our Kid is Cute
Nestled in east Texas is Camp Jellystone Whispering Pines. Since we’ve visited them last (a couple years ago), they’ve undergone some pretty massive renovations and added a bunch of RV spots and cabins.
We had a great time before and a really grand time this visit. Lots of water fights in the water park, I swam laps in that giant pool all by myself, we had s’mores over the fire pit, baked pizza on the grill outside, sang karaoke in the arts & craft center, played laser tag, played gellyball, did a round of miniature golf, did donuts in a golf cart, had an afternoon snack of “make your own caramel apple”, jumped for hours on the giant jump pad, found a shady spot made by a pole in the pool, spotted raccoons foraging around the campground at night and listened to the forest night sounds while stargazing around the fire pit.
We can’t wait to go back …
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Filed under Entertainment can be Expensive, I did something Special, I Stimulate the Economy, Our Kid is Cute, Travel and Adventures
We went to Costco over the weekend. I had two items on my list. (1) frozen salmon and (2) hot chocolate packets.
I wandered amidst all the giant displays of Halloween stuff and Christmas decorations, meandered through the candy aisle and fruit area. I found the frozen salmon and suffered sticker shock – it was $33 for 4 lbs. What the heck? Not all THAT long ago, it used to be $12 or so for 2.5 lbs.
Then I headed down the coffee aisles and looked for the hot chocolate packets. That’s where I found them the previous time I purchased them there. I didn’t see them anywhere. I finally enlisted the Husband’s help, because if they were anywhere, he would have been able to find them. Again, nothing. We even looked through the Christmas gift-type candy, nothing.
As we checked out, the cashier asked if we had found everything. I said, everything except the hot chocolate. She laughed and said, “Oh, that’s seasonal.” Uhhh, what? Seasonal? What does THAT mean? They have Halloween and Christmas stuff out, but not hot chocolate? They’re not like persimmons which only produce fruit during September and October, it’s hot chocolate. I finally replied, “Seasonal? For who?” And THEN she said, “Girl, it is September in Texas. Who drinks hot chocolate at this time of year?”
And my Husband must have read my face, because he piped up and saved that woman’s life, saying, “She adds it to her coffee.” I was thinking, yes, COFFEE, which is ALSO a hot drink which is commonly consumed in Texas in summer months.
But i was left with the impression that this poor woman who works as a checker in Costco completely missed the irony when she called hot chocolate a “seasonal” item because, literally, all the SEASONAL ITEMS WERE OUT ON THE FLOOR. Except the hot chocolate, of course.
Anyway, while we were there, I saw these items that I wanted to buy, but didn’t. You should be proud of me. hehe
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Filed under I feel Amused, I Stimulate the Economy
Monday morning we had a fast moving powerful storm blow through with lightning and thunder. It had moved eastward by 8:50 AM, and that is noteworthy because our call time for our boat tour on Caddo Lake was 9:00 AM. It couldn’t have been more perfect after days of temperatures in the triple digits, the storm brought the temps down to the point that I actually got a shiver, and being on the lake right after was just gorgeous. The egrets were out in hidden bayous nipping little fish out of the water, great blue herons were swooping up after eating their fill, hungry birds were everywhere it seemed.
We were educated on the non-native, invasive plants that try to take over the lake and how they try to battle it back every year until the cold comes in winter, which then kills them off. But every year, they come back. It was just beautiful.
After the boat tour, we drove to the Caddo Lake State Park and strolled out on the piers and looked at the water lilies and the pretty yellow spatterdock (water flowers).
Then, the Husband forced us to have some “do nothing” time. I don’t have “do nothing” time. If we’re on vacation in a cool place, we MUST be doing SOMETHING. So, in defiance, I started researching who the area artist is that repurposes VW bugs into art and went down a rabbit hole of history about the area. Pictures and story in my next post. So fascinating!
Anyway, we went back to Jefferson for dinner (we made it into McGarety’s Pub without a reservation – YES! FIST PUMP!) and then had a post-dinner walk through the forest.
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Filed under Best Husband, Every Day Magic, I Left Home for Awhile, I Stimulate the Economy
I visited Ross Dress for Less today. It is one of my favorite stores to shop at. Not today. I walked in, strolled the store, walked back out. Didn’t buy a thing. I was OK with that.
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Filed under I Judge Bad Marketing, I Stimulate the Economy, We're all searching for something
One of our favorite places! There is one being built a little more near to our home and I’m very excited!! Right now they have a strawberries and cream flavor that is amazing!
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Filed under Best Husband, Gratitude Quest, I did something Special, I have Family, I Stimulate the Economy, Our Kid is Cute, Texas Life
I vaguely remember a time that I didn’t have sinus issues. It was before that time I flew to Oklahoma when I was in my early-20’s with a bad head cold. Things were never the same for me after that. Chronic ear crackling; crackling every time I swallow and any sort of elevation change, and when we go up the mountain to Big Bear, my ears squeal at me as they try to adjust. It’s awful. Yet, I saw an ENT in my late 20’s and was told everything looked normal, probably just allergies.
So, I pursued allergy treatment and after feeling like a pin cushion for a couple months, I decided it was easier just to deal with it.
About 6 months ago, I had some pain in my upper right gums. Enough that I went and saw the dentist. He performed an x-ray and didn’t see anything amiss as far as my teeth went. He did notice that a crown wasn’t fitted properly and there was a small decay in the tooth next to it, but he said he was fine with watching it until next year when I suspect our dental insurance will change to better coverage, as long as I kept it really clean.
In August, I went and saw another ENT. His office performed a hearing test and then the ENT peered briefly in my ears with an otoscope and said I had some minor hearing loss, but since I wasn’t a judge and didn’t really need to hear every word someone said, I should just deal with it. He also recommended my son come in for a hearing test, because he felt he might be deaf, as well. Since I figured out he was a douchebag, just for fun, I asked him about preventative hearing protection for when I drive my convertible with the top down. He told me there was no need to do something like that, it wouldn’t impact my hearing at all. Oh really? Good thing I started wearing earplugs 10 years ago or so when I drive somewhere.
Three weeks ago, I had major pain in my upper right gums again. I waited a week and then went into the dentist’s office and instructed him to just do what needed to be done to the molars. He drilled the improperly fitted crown off, cleaned up in there (there was some decay under the crown), and fixed the cavity in the tooth next to it. I asked him about the swelling in my gums and he told me that looked like a maxillary sinus infection and that I needed to see an ENT.
So I pursued a referral to get a second opinion through my GP. Meanwhile, my gums were swelling larger, my face was swollen in response and I was in a ton of pain. When I got to see the 2nd ENT, I couldn’t even touch my face it hurt so bad — despite the Advil I was taking. After an actual exam (he looked in my nose and ears and checked my tonsils!!), he prescribed antibiotics and authorized a CT Scan.
Surprisingly, the diagnostic imaging place called me that night and fit me in the next day (last Friday). By the time I went in to see them, I had taken 3 antibiotic pills, and as I climbed into their scanning machine, my gums burst from the pressure. The relief was instant and the taste was utterly gross.
On Monday, the ENT’s office called and left me a voicemail telling me the authorization had come through and to be sure and schedule the CT Scan. I listened to the voice mail and rolled my eyes. Clearly, they had no idea how on top of things the diagnostic place was.
Yesterday, I went back to my dentist and while he was fitting my permanent crown, I told him my gross story about my gums blowing out from the infection. He took a look, went back and looked at his x-ray, and suggested that perhaps I go see an endodontist, just to be sure the roots were OK. Said if there is a problem, it’d be easier to get to now rather than down the road, because the crown is not on permanently and it would not be wise to put a brand new crown on just to potentially drill it off again in a month if there’s a problem. He further said that maxillary sinuses are the only sinuses that drain upwards, and he told me that blowing out the gums is an odd place for them to drain, they don’t usually have enough pressure to do that. He secured the crown with tempbond and sent me over right away.
The endodontist did x-rays and told me the tooth was dead. He tested it three times with liquid nitrogen (super fun!!). He showed me on the x-ray where an infection was still present and recommended doing a root canal immediately so that it didn’t infect the surrounding molars. I wish I could have had him take a picture of how he prepared my mouth for surgery; it was kind of amazing. He put sunglasses on my eyes and then he clamped something on the infected tooth and then spread a plastic cape to surround it so nothing landed in my mouth. The image I had in my mind as he worked was of a solitary tooth sitting on a picnic blanket. HA!
Turns out, one of the roots in the “dead” tooth was still half alive which made for an interesting drilling experience and many apologies on his behalf for causing me pain. It was my first root canal and I cried — such a bummer and all because of an ill-fitted crown. I cannot believe I’ve spent this much time chasing this problem and 4 1/2 hours in various dentist chairs yesterday.
On the upside, though, I finally got a CT scan, so I can’t wait to see what that shows as far as the sinus problems (probably nothing, but still). AND, one of the best discoveries of yesterday? Bite blocks. The endodontist used one while he performed the surgery and I didn’t want to give it up. I will be asking for bite blocks at all my future dentist appointments!
Filed under Health/Endo, I feel Sad, I Stimulate the Economy, I Worry A lot
Between travel escapades part 1 and 2 lived the peanut butter and jelly part of the trip. The good stuff between the bookends. The seeing of people we love. The visiting. The time spent with family. The memories made. The laughter. The exploring of new places.
Because of the mess on the flight out, we lost a half day of time that I had planned to spend with family that Saturday. My aunt had made a special dinner, which she put away for another day when we let her know we wouldn’t be there. Normally early to bed, early to rise, I was grateful that my aunt & uncle were still up (watching football) when we finally did get there at 11:30 PM. I was also grateful that we miraculously did manage to get a decent night’s sleep. Side note about sleep and traveling with William: I’ve learned that it’s better for everyone if I just sleep in the same bed as William when we’re traveling, especially for that first night, I just go to bed when I put him to bed. If I don’t, then he wakes up repeatedly crying (different house, different bed, it makes sense) and then I spend far too much time calming him down and getting him back to sleep, only to have it repeat again in an hour. If I go to bed with him, he’ll wake up, but will reach out a hand, find me and go right back to sleep on his own with no problems.
Sunday my aunt had her family over, so William got to play with my cousin’s grandchildren, and I got to visit with the grown-ups, people that I always enjoy spending time with when we visit there. I especially enjoy the quiet moments of conversation that I have with my aunt, and it always seems like they’re too few and too short, because those conversations always seem to happen late at night when we both need to be asleep. Those late night conversations are also the reason I like to stay in her home, instead of a hotel. For some reason, one loses those vulnerable visits with family if you’re staying in a hotel. Thankfully, my aunt loves me enough to put us up.
My aunt also passed on some family heirlooms — a child’s rocking chair made by William’s g-g-g-grandfather in 1868, and a handmade quilt that we believe to have been made by William’s g-g-grandma. Getting those items home were a bit of a feat, a worthy feat, to be sure. We bought a sturdy box and bubble wrapped it, but the measurements were too big for “free” check in with Southwest. We priced out other options and ultimately decided to customize the box so it fit within Southwest’s dimensions… and, we are so very grateful that despite all the things Southwest screwed up, they did get those two items home for us without damaging them.
On Monday, we went to the Omaha Zoo, which is rated to be in the top 10 zoos of the United States. After having visited it, I can see why. While large, it is really well laid out, so a lot of ground can be covered in a minimum of time. We visited the big cats first, then meandered over and took the tram and the skyride. After which we went to the playground, where William played with the peacocks. Then we went through the gorilla exhibit, their desert dome and their aquarium. It was definitely a full day and we really enjoyed ourselves. Upon leaving, William informed me that, “I’m going to cry about leaving the zoo.” So, I guess it’s safe to say he had a great time. The Omaha Zoo offered half price tickets to us as a reciprocal program to members of the Santa Ana Zoo. So glad I read about that on the zoo’s website!
On Tuesday, we went to the Lauritzen Gardens. I love botanical gardens (remember my visit to the botanical gardens in Oklahoma City in 2004 or the ones in Hawaii?) and these were just stunning. Upon arrival, we took the tram tour, and then went and had lunch at the cafe (which closed at 2pm). The food at the cafe was amazing! After lunch, we walked back to see their miniature model train garden, which was actually one of the primary reasons for visiting there. The structural elements of the tracks are handmade, even the bridges, from twigs and branches, etc. There are six trains that run, three above and three below, as well as a cable car that goes back and forth. Sadly, it started POURING rain about 20 minutes after we started to look at it. They shut the trains down when it rains to preserve them, so we left. If I had known that it was going to rain and that we would be leaving so quickly, given that’s what we were there for, I would have made that garden our priority and gone there first.
That evening, we had dinner in Old Town Omaha at a place called Spaghetti works with my uncle Paul, his wife and their daughter. Their son wasn’t able to make it, sadly. I haven’t seen those two cousins since they were small, maybe about William’s age. It was kind of neat to see her all grown up and to see my uncle play with my son’s Hot Wheels with him across the dinner table. It was a good evening.
On Wednesday, we went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, and then visited the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. It was an interesting walk-through and able to get through it within an hour or so. That evening we went back to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to let William run some steam off, and also to replicate a picture we took when he was 11 months old.
Tony came down with a cold on Tuesday, so he was feeling under the weather. We delayed our departure to my uncle’s farm on Thursday, allowing Tony a little more time to rest. I had hoped to be out there by lunch time, and felt badly that we weren’t given that she had prepared lunch for us. Instead we made it there in time for dinner, which was all homegrown — steak fillets from a steer they grew, tomatoes, potatoes and ears of corn from their garden. It was kind of startling to realize, that with a little effort and land, a family actually can be self sufficient in this day and age.
Friday, we spent visiting and playing outside. William played on their swing/slide combo in their yard, played with the litter of kittens who were exploring their home in the woodpile. He also “helped” carve some pumpkins with my cousin’s 2 girls. We went to my cousin’s house after dinner to check out her goats, calf, bunnies, dogs, cats, hens, and a pony.
Our day ended too quickly, despite extending it the best we could with a late bedtime. We were up early Saturday morning to make the drive back into Omaha to presumably catch our flight home. All the stress involved with loading the car and sadness of saying goodbyes.
Pictures can be found here: LINK
A few weeks ago, I saw that the circus was coming to town. Since Tony and I went back in 2006, I’ve wanted to go again, but have been waiting until William is old enough to enjoy it.
We got there early, they open the gates 90 minutes before show time so you can see all their animals. William was enthralled with the elephants. The big cats were behind two fences and netting, understandably given that they were like 5 feet away from us, but made it hard to really see them. They had 2 kangaroos, a pig and the usual assortment of goats and dogs.
When the show started, their ringmaster came out and, whoa!!, he is incredibly talented and his singing voice is astonishing. I was so very impressed by him that I actually took the time to look up who he is and find out a bit about the man. Andre McClain is his name, and here’s his bio according to the Ringling Bros. website (link). The internet yielded (among other things) that he’s a newlywed, he married his wife (also a circus performer) at a surprise circus wedding, and that he’s a multi-talented rancher and has been with the circus since 2003, only recently taking up the reins as ringmaster. So cool.
William enjoyed most of it, like the elephants, the big cats, the trapeze show and the gymnastics floor show. I guess the only part he really didn’t care for was the motorcycles in a cage. He said that was too loud and spent most of that time in Tony’s arms with his ears covered. Although, apparently it wasn’t so loud that he couldn’t fall asleep and take a surprise hour long nap. Thankfully, the bulk of his nap fell over the intermission and when he woke up, he was surprised to see the pig and dog show that was happening.
One of the funniest parts was a clown who came out and balanced on the wall in front of us, and then proceeded to walk on that wall all the way around the stadium in his big ass clown shoes. Of course, he did it during intermission when my arms were full of a sleeping William (so no pictures). The other funny part was when the motorcycle on a wire came out with a trapeze artist underneath him and he was right above us. Surprised, William jumped and then said, “What the heck are they doing up there?”
Of course, we did the souvenir picture… we had to. So we could do the comparison picture.
A few months ago, when I booked our trip to Hawaii, having been there several times before, I had in mind several activities I wanted to do while there, snorkeling being at the top of that list. When in Hawaii, one should always make it a priority to snorkel. Especially when sea turtles are a part of the aquatic scenery. Tropical fish and sea turtles, how could snorkeling get any better?
I wasn’t sure how that priority would work out… I mean, you’re really not supposed to snorkel alone, because… uh… you know, sharks! Also, the places you find tropical fish or sea turtles is usually around the coral, because fish like to eat! But coral is also sharp and the ocean can sometimes be rough. So, what to do with a toddler while both parents are out snorkeling?
Well, that challenge was resolved when my mom said she’d love to go to Hawaii with us and even offered to watch William while we went and did some stuff. But the question remained of how to allow William to see some of the underwater scenery without snorkeling apparatus. And then we went to LegoLand. At LegoLand, in their waterpark, they have transparent tubes with a seat — perfect for toddlers who want to float around but not fall through into the water. Also perfect for parents who want to take their toddler out in the clear waters of Hawaii with the hopes that he might be able to see a fish or two in their natural habitat.
So I tracked down the manufacturer and went on their website intending to order the item… except I couldn’t and I thought it a glitch of their website, but it wasn’t. The problem was, I’m not a waterpark. Shocking, I know, given how much time I spend in the water. I should either be a waterpark or a mermaid!
So, since I couldn’t order the tube on their website, I called them. The representative I spoke to was so sweet and as I explained my dilemma, she interrupted me and told me that she would mail me one for free, as long as I promised to tell the world what I thought of their company.
So, here’s William at LegoLand’s waterpark enjoying his ride on their tube.
Here’s William floating in the ocean while we visited Hawaii in his very own Airhead tube. The water was so clear and there was a fish or two that he got to see through the tube.
All of which is to say that If I were a waterpark, I would definitely buy from AirHead (or visit AirHead on Facebook). Since Legoland already has, I think that serves as a pretty high testomonial in and of itself. If I ever want any of their products as a consumer, I wouldn’t hesitate to order from them. Their products and customer service are top notch, and I foresee lots of floating fun for William in the future. Thank you, AirHead, for your unexpected generosity!
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