Day Four of Travel to ? 6-3-09

CALIFORNIA....STILL.

I woke up at 6:30 today, got ready, checked out, and walked with my bags to the AMC (Passenger Terminal). There was a flight to Hawaii-Guam-Japan at 0840, but only 8 tentative seats and I had almost no chance of being able to board with the already 65 people waiting for those 8 seats. I walked back to the Hotel and checked back in. (I got the last remaining room! whew!) Since the day was open I booked an hour and a half massage at the fitness center and pampered myself! Afterward I had lunch and took a nap. :) Oh the luxury of taking a nap! I woke up with enough time to walk back to the AMC and see that I was 2 people away from being able to fly out on the 1710 flight to Hawaii. I'm glad I checked into the hotel when I did. Next I walked across the street to the outdoor aquatic center and lounged by the pool in the late afternoon sun. Right now I'm sitting at the Base Mini Mall eating some dinner and, OF COURSE, some dessert too! haha. I'm such a dessert girl! I am looking forward to enjoying a nice glass of wine and relaxing in my hotel room. There is a flight to Hawaii and Guam tomorrow at 1:10pm but only 5 tentative seats, so I'm not worrying about it because Friday there are 5 flights to Hawaii with a possible 161 seats....I'm fairly sure I'll be in Hawaii on Friday. Maybe tomorrow I'll go to the beach or a wine tour? ~Sarah

Day Three of Travel to ?

NAPA AND SONOMA CALIFORNIA

Today began with a rental car swap and setting my iPhone GPS to Napa. I arrived in the late morning and had a fantastic breakfast at Gillwood's Cafe in downtown Napa. The Mimosa just completed the already great and sunny morning. After breakfast I had my nails done ( I know...how girly is that?) and went to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a chocolate dipped frozen banana! I walked around Napa a bit and then decided to head for Sonoma.

This is the park in downtown Sonoma. I was so impressed with the quaint, old-world feeling town center. I could spend some serious time relaxing here. The little shops, cafes, art galleries, and sitting areas with star jasmine and other yummy flowers only adds to the smell of gourmet food and WINE! Mmmm I wish I weren't the driver today or I would have had a bit. :o)

On the way back to Travis AFB I stopped at the most beautiful Vineyard I'd passed on the way up and explored the estate and the vineyards a little.

The road wound around the hills and beautiful vineyards. On they way home I found a Trader Joe's (yummy organic fruit), grabbed some dinner from the Commissary (grocery store) and returned my car rental. A very good day and I am ready for sleep. ~ Sarah

Day Two of Travel to ? 6-1-09

CALIFORNIA

Today I woke up with just enough time to get ready and check out of the hotel before I rented a car and was on my way to Fairfield CA to visit the Jelly Belly Factory! I had a great time and got to try all sorts of new flavors! Yum yum! After, I set out for San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge. As you can see I got to see most of it and found great place to get a shot of almost the whole bridge.

Next I set my iPhone GPS to Ghirardelli Square! I don't know how I would have found all these places without my phone! I HEART my iPhone! I also HEART the Peanut Butter Chocolate Parfait I had at Ghirardelli! Yum! (That's right...so far to eat 1. Jelly Bellies and 2. Ghirardelli sweets)



I figured by this point that I should probably eat something other than sugar, so I tracked down an In-N-Out burger down at Fisherman's Wharf. Wharf is a weird word. Also I walked around and took in some of the sights.

I had a really good (rather geeky) day and enjoyed my time thoroughly! I'll try to keep you updated~Sarah

Day One of Travel to ? 5-31-09

Woke up at 6:45 after a late night of fun with the Castillos before they pull out on their next military adventure. Walked to the AMC and found out there was only 1 seat available on the flight to Japan...I thought I had good odds until a Category 2 (Medical Leave) girl snatched it up. So I was left with a quick decision: Walk back home on this rainy-cold Alaskan Summer day OR board the flight for Travis AFB (Between Sacramento and San Francisco) California. I went with the CALIFORNIA choice! The flight on a C17 was really interesting because there was a crew doing medical training the whole time, so they ran through all sorts of scenarios like crash landing, fire, loss of pressure, various injuries, etc. I slept all stretched out with my bed roll and pillows and blankets most of the way and woke up to a sunny, palm tree view out the back hatch of the plane! So Cool! Checked into the base hotel (SOOOOOOO nice! I'm really amazed!) and walked to the BX (store) for dinner. The sweet smell of star jasmine is everywhere and it's nice actually using my sunglasses! haha. No flights to Japan on Monday, so I'm planning to rent a car and go to the Jelly Belly Factory, San Francisco to see the Golden Gate and maybe Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf.

Pearl Getting Bigger

Spring Break with Family!

Enjoying the view



Grizzley Bears (The Three Bears?)
Elk
Moose (In the background) :o)

Bald  Eagle





Me, Gramma & Mom
Iditarod

Truck

Got Kelly a HUGE Truck

Dog Sled Ride

Before

After

Merry Christmas

-Pearl and I in Oregon City for the Holiday-

-Mom's house in Oregon City with record amounts of snow-
-Shoveling the driveway and putting on chains-

-Mom and I on a walk to the store-

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas!

Love,

Sarah

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from a small tent/plywood church in Manass Kazakstan!