Moving East

This is for Jen, Kari and Stan (they will understand)

The dreaded room

We left CA and moved east to Arizona. I never thought I would be back in Needles (Several members of my family had a traumatic experience there in the 80's that involved a Pontiac, Motel 6, Denny's and Annie Lennox). Give me a bottle of wine and I will tell you all about it sometime. Anyway, Mark and I spent the night in Needles.

Let's move on to something more pleasant, shall we? 

On to the Grand Canyon. I never really aspired to go see it but I must say it is one I

impressive hole in the ground. It was hard to wrap my mind around it. Pictures do not do it justice, you just have to see it for yourself.

We stopped for the night in Albuquerque, NM . It seemed like a nice enough place. The next morning we moved on to Roswell. Ah, Rosewell.

I figured why take chances

We stayed in Roswell for two nights and as far as I know I was not abducted (I'm not so sure about Mark).

We spent a day at Carlsbad Caverns. It was awesome. Pictures can't really capture it but here are some anyway cause they take up room on this blog and I'm not all that great at writing.

We got back to Celina, TX on the 14th but did not let Mark's mom know we were here until the 16th. It was her 80th birthday and we wanted to surprise her.

I will be here for a few more days and then I will drive up to Illinois for Halloween with the Oswego tribe. Mark will be flying up to join me on Nov. 10th to attend Benji's veterans day celebration at his school. We love that he wants his Poppo there. I don't really know yet what our plans are after that but as we move east toward our destination of Jacksonville I will keep you all posted!

California Dreaming

Swimming hole at Arroyo Secca where we camped as kids

Well, Howdy! I'll bet you've been wondering "Now why don't she write?" To tell the truth I have just been too busy having a great time with the fam.
Mark and I went to Yosemite from Reno. We stayed at an Army supply depot RV park in Stockton which would not have been half bad if it were not located right next to a Purina dog food plant. Put your head in a sack of kibbles and bits, inhale and you have the situation covered.

I love sequoias, don't you?

Bridal Veil falls was still, well, falling

 Yosemite is beautiful and even this late in the season some of the waterfalls were still flowing.

We left Stockton and moved on to San Jose. We spent two weeks visiting with my family. Bill took us all over the place. We went to Monterey, San Francisco and all sorts of places in between. What a blast!

Clyde and I in SF (that's Alcatraz behind us)

Grandma and Grandpa Rustowsky's house in Palo Alto

 Stan, Bill and I went to Arroyo Secca to scatter Mom and Dad's ashes. Our family spent many wonderful summers there and I know it was one of the places where Mom and Dad were truly happy. We wish Daniel could have been with us but it did not work out. You were there is spirit, Bro!We found a spot by one of our favorite lakes and had to climb up to some rocks to find just the right spot. We almost killed ourselves but felt that it was only fitting since just about everything Dad did with us there was in some way life threatening. Hell, it ain't fun if it's easy!
I feel like I have a sense of peace and closure for them. Thanks for everything Mom and Dad!

Snake Lake at Arroyo Secca where we scattered Mom and Dad's ashes

Stan's homage to Dad

Picnic lunch at
Big Basin

 

More lighter fluid please!

Dad would have loved this! See the monkey?

My Justin

We played Bacchi Ball and Ally kept us legal

Rebecca is so pretty

Mia

Reese

Kaelyn is such a sweetie

My sis

Ally cat

I don't remember who won but we had a blast!

Reese giving Kaelyn high five

San Francisco from Mt. Tamilpias

I love CA!

this one is for Ray Jenkins!

 I miss CA and all of my peeps very much and want all of them to know how much spending time there meant to Mark and I.. Peace!