Favorite Moments Part 2

Here's a continued blog of some of my favorite moments...

*** In January, Steve and I went to Newport Beach, California for the ALS National Conference with Steve's job. All I can say is WOW!!! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! I've found one of my new favorite vacation spots. Although it rained 3 out of the 4.5 days we were there... the one day that it didn't rain was so gorgeous that I'd go back in a heartbeat! In fact, I've got to go back because I never got to see the ocean. I attempted to walk to it one day while Steve was at his conference. The lady who gave me directions TOTALLY did not know where she was going. I walked for about 2 miles and got to Pacific Coast Hwy... but could not see how to get to the beach. I ran right into a subdivision of houses! I finally turned around and walked back to our hotel with no luck in getting to see the beach. Later that night, Steve and I tried to find it by going a different direction. It grew dark on us and we were afraid it was about to rain... so, we too turned around and went back to the hotel without ever getting to the beach!

This is a view from our hotel room. (there was a golf course right below. In the back ground... those mountains have snow on top!- you obviously can't tell in this pic. It snowed while we were in Cali... just not in Newport Beach)

I ABSOLUTELY did not fit in there though! I've never seen so many rich people in my life! I don't think I saw a "normal" car while I was there. Now, normal for me... a girl that grew up in a small town in Texas, went to college in small town, and now practically lives in Mexico... normal cars to me are Toyota's, Chevy's, Ford's, min-vans, trucks... etc. EVERY car in the parking lot of our hotel... and EVERY car I saw driving down the street was a Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, Infiniti, Jaguar, etc. Don't get me wrong, I've seen these cars... yes, they even have them in Burkburnett where I grew up... but... it's not the "norm" to see those and nothing BUT those kinds of cars!

Not only that... but across from our hotel was a mall called "Fashion Island". It's an outdoor mall. If you've been to the Shops at La Cantera in San Antonio... that's what it was like... only nicer! In fact, I walked over to the mall one day in jeans (nice jeans... not w/ holes or anything). I got over there and was WAY underdressed! I turned around and went back to the hotel to change clothes just so I didn't stand out! I put black dress pants on and a nice shirt... just to walk around the dad-gum mall! How crazy! But... it was a great experience!

The food... now that was an experience too! Every meal we ate (all of them at the hotel for Steve's conference) was eating something like you'd see on TV. Every plate was too pretty to eat! Even the salads! I mean, how pretty can you make lettuce look??? Whoever prepared the meals had to be artists... it was just beautiful! Our first night there, we had literally just gotten off the plane and to the hotel. We were STARVING. We went downstairs to the hotel restaurant to grab some dinner. Mind you, we're in windpants and t-shirts! We go in and it's dark in there... there are candlelight tables all over the place. So, we're already out of place in our attire. We look at the menu... holy cow! I can't afford the water! Just kidding... but, that's about all I could afford! LOL! We did have a wonderful... yet expensive dinner... $35/person! (just a side note for all of you that know what I like to eat... they didn't have bean and cheese burritos!). I had grilled chicken for every meal!

Anyhoo... I won't bore you with anymore details. I will just say it was awesome and I would recommend it to anyone!

Here are a few pictures from our hotel...

This is the view from the hotel restaurant balcony