Safe & Sound

We're home. It's been a while since I've been away that long. I'm sure I could've spent another 3 days there but I was missing my bed.

The trip was incredible. We stayed in this very swanky hotel. Ultra modern & very funky. There were pictures of half dressed barbies on the walls and the bed was in a cave. You had to crawl up it to get in.

We spent the first day lobbying our Congressmen & Senators. The best part was just being at our nation's Capitol and seeing all there is to see. We went through the underground tunnels and peeked in Committee hearings. Even though we see it all here locally, it's much different and more exciting in DC.

And if you think you've heard too much Obama/Hillary conversation lately, just go to DC and see it on every window, hear it in every coffee shop and read it in every journal. Politics are beaming 24/7. & I couldn't tell if one of them had any lead on the Hill. I think it's probably 50/50 and we'll be blessed either way.

We went to an H*R*C hosted luncheon and Senator Kennedy spoke. He's 76 years old and to hear him speak, you'd think he was still in his forties. Brilliant. & motivating. H*R*C has a beautiful building. They ran a capitol campaign about five years ago and it's really incredible to look at the skyline of DC and know there is a Big, Gay skyscraper among them.

This is Elizabeth Birch who happens to be my most favorite:

This is their Election Campaign for 2008. I'm sure they'll bother all of you with all the details:

We spent yesterday looking at all the sites. Cristy had never been. It was great seeing her "see" it all. She teared up at the Lincoln Memorial - I knew she would. & we walked the Mall and saw all the different war memorials. We didn't make it to Arlington but we'll probably be back there in October.

This is the amazing Washington Monument. Construction began in 1848 but wasn't completed until 1884. Old news. If we could just get our home to last as long...

And this, of course, is Abe's place. It much more beautiful at night but we didn't have the opportunity to stay down there. It was built in 1922. I think it's haunted.

And a few random from the WWII memorial. My grandfather fought in that war & this was my first time back since they built & introduced it. I'm sure it's much more stunning when the fountains are on...I wasn't so impressed so I'll just show you my grandpa's part and my favorite quote.

Because I'm still in my tww, there wasn't a lot of "wild & crazy" but we had a great time. It was a great way to end the session and it reminded me of how much history Utah doesn't have.

Happy New Year's Eve!

It seems I've rested myself a cold...

While I sit in here and catch up on email, Cristy and her family are creating 6 masterpieces for dinner - anywhere from lobster, artichokes, crab legs, shrimp, cheeses upon cheeses, goat something and more cheese. I can sort of smell it at this point but I'm certain in just moments, I'll taste it. Spoiled am I.

We're counting down the hours to cheers to a new year. B posted this fab idea of toasting champagne then breaking your glass. I love it and may have to copy it and start a new family tradition. Supposedly it breaks through the pangs of last year and you begin anew. Isn't that what it's all about?

This year has been trying, no doubt. - full of pain and full of blessings. I suppose that's what life is all about. But as we count the goodness found from this year, I will count finding this safe place and finding all of you.

Happy New Year to you all. May all your dreams come true - God bless.

More Resting

I love vacations. I love being here and not worrying about a single thing - except my sick dog. She ruins any kind of complete peace but other than her, perfection. I hear it's snowing like crazy at our house. Right now, Molly & her boyfriend are tearing it up in our yard - or better yet, tearing UP our yard. I miss her - them. But I know she's been very taken care of while we've been here and I am forever grateful for our house sitters.

Cristy still needs to be reminded to sit like a lady...

It's lovely here. Blue skies. Warm, finally. We wondered around without jackets this morning - feels like spring. We had Amy Ray blaring in the car while we argued over who was singing the words right. Me, of course. I love her.

This picture is from our back deck. It's for Gina - this is her city...

Last night we drove up to the observatory to look at Mars. It's not something I would typically think of doing but it was beautiful. I love LA. & have I mentioned what great food they have here? I know it sounds cliche' but I have loved every restaurant, every coffee bar, every last morsel of apple tart. We've had pasta's, mushroom puree soup, sushi, beet & arugula with parmesean cheese - oh god, I could go on and on. Cristy's brother-in-law likes eating as much as she does. Or maybe I should say they appreciate it. :) They've done a great job at picking places the last couple of nights. But because they are so good at "picking", I need to binge and purge for weeks once we get home. :)

Tuna tartar

Us after a few drinks


Us with Uncle Steve

Cristy and her favorite oldest sister

I think I fell in love this morning. Again. Cristy looks prettier when she's in California. It's her real home. Watching her walk through 'Val Surf is like watching a child in a candy store. I looked at her at one point and thought, "that's what she looked like when she was 13". I can So see her bothering the neighbors with the sound of her skateboard wheels. She is...beautiful.

You might not see it here but she's really a catch!

Enough of that. I'm obviously on vacation and away from bill paying and house cleaning. But I thought I'd better document my adoration for her so when I look back during times of begging her to do some yard work or dusting, I remember how great she is.

Hope you're all well.

Rubbing it in...

It's our 2nd day here and I'm still in "rest mode". Loving every single minute.

We got here terribly early yesterday morning. 7am, to be exact. Jet Blue has that wonderful timing thing going on. Luckily our friends have a 4 year old that wakes them before then so we drove to Irvine and had breakfast in Laguna - the finest fresh squeezed orange juice I've had since I was here last. ah...fresh fruit.

We drove the 1 all the way up to the strawberry fields - only strawberries aren't in season so we settled for avocados and a tomato. I should've bought those lillie's. Damn. Malibu was burned all the way to the freeway and that was kind of odd to see. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth and it's sad to think what people lost here just a few months ago. Also, we saw this hill of sand that people were using boxes to sled down. For a minute I thought, "I bet these people wish they had snow" but who am I kidding? No one likes snow for more than a week or so. :)

But don't be too jealous yet, Utah bloggers. It's cold here. I don't think it's been more than 50 degrees and we have been mooching sweaters and socks to stay warm. Cristy brought shorts. I know, go ahead and laugh at her. I told her it wasn't April but she didn't believe me.

I think I slept 11 hours last night. I'm not even kidding. It's amazing what life looks like when you have nothing to think about. I've been sticking to my "stay in pajamas" as much as possible.

We've had some great food and wine since getting here and there's more to come. And we went to a movie today called Juno. If you haven't seen it, you must. I had popcorn and milkduds. You might not care about that but I'm trying to make you understand that I'm on VACATION! I'm eating and drinking like a girl who doesn't have twenty-five pounds to lose - it's fabulous. A glass of wine, pasta, a cocktail, a snowball dessert with coconut on top...let it never end.

Tomorrow we head to Santa Barbara and then back here again for New Year's Eve. I'll be rubbing it in as I go.

And just to remind you - only three more days to let all the bad stuff from 2007 go. We're starting anew, right? Pile it up - we'll burn it, erase it and shake it off on Monday night. anew...