RT - Day 17 (Happy Halloween!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FRIENDS!!

You are not going to believe where I'm writing you from at this very moment. I'm at the gym, that happens to remind me of an upscale hotel. I found a pool and attached to the pool is this AMAZING place! Let me list these amenities and particulars about this "gym"...I just can't believe it.

1. Café (that could seat 150 people!) There are almost that many seats you guys! I ordered a pesto chicken flatbread thinking it was going to be some small sandwich thing...I forgot what a flatbread was...and heaven on a plate came out!!! I took another dang picture of my food! Can you see the pooling olive oil??? Sooo delicious!

I'm in flatbread heaven!

This was just the food side...there was a whole other side to this! 150 chairs man!

2. The staff all fell out of a magazine and are dressed in suits and dress clothes. They look so fancy! We are all in gym clothes and they stepped out of a Calvin Klein store with hair and makeup done, ready for a runway show. I should have felt guilty for eating a delicious flatbread in front of these people, but no way...I'm too happy.

3. The spa! The spa! The spa where they have luxury treatments including a hair salon, nails, massage, facials, the whole kit and caboodle! I cannot even tell you how amazing the robe was! I am half prepared to go ask them if I can buy one. Talk about being dressed in a cloud. OMG. Plus I got a massage...I splurged on this increasingly pricy trip for an excellent massage. It was phenomenal. Dim lights, chilled water with orange slices, the very best of the spa experience.

I could have napped in these chairs in my comfy robe!

4. The ladies locker room. Holy moly you guys...I can't even. The locker room was deluxe and had every amenity a woman could want. Shampoo, conditional, body wash, shaving cream in every stall along with a regular shower head and a rain shower head above if you'd like. Soft towels, soaps, mouthwash, spray deodorant, hair spray, razors, Q-Tips, makeup remover clothes, cotton balls, Tampax tampons, and lotion. Honestly...everything a girl could need accept a toothbrush and toothpaste. I've never been to any place with that much stuff! Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful sauna, steam room, hot tub and padded chaise lounge chairs. This is all just in the ladies locker room. How dare they call it a locker room! Oasis would be better. Even the lockers were fancy and big and free to use and lock.

5. The POOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! S!!!! POOLS!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite place and the main reason I came to find this gorgeous place. I wanted a swim, I needed one. I needed to be soaked in chlorine and surrounded by hot tub bubbles. There is an indoor pool area and an outdoor pool area. Inside there is a kiddy pool that's have the size of a regular pool, but all standing for the kids. Then there are two, six-lane lap pools and a hot tub. The ceilings must be 25 feet high! Not kidding! Looks at least two stories high, at least. Then you walk outside and OMG.....There is a massive hot tub, another six-lane infinity lap pool and then you see the "leisure pool" with the huge spiral slide going into the pool that belongs on the beaches of Hawaii...and then the outdoor café and lounge seating throughout. I took pictures. They don't do any of these place justice. I'm in heaven here.

Hot tub for at least 15 people. I was the only one though...place to myself on a Wednesday morning!

This is the leisure pool. The slide is to the left, the café to the right and even more to the left, off the pic, is the infinity lap pool I had all to myself.

So...now I'm thinking I'm going to go back into town and walk around Franklin like I had originally planned yesterday. Yesterday was a down day and today is my pamper day. I feel like a queen! I paid $35 for the entire day so I'm going to go do my Franklin touristy stuff then come back here for a night swim. The day is overcast and breezy. I love it!

Love ya!
Kel

RT - Day 16 (My Down Day)

Hey peeps!

I had a down day. It was really nice. Well...I did a little tourist thing and then downed. First I had to move from my Quiet House north of Nashville (Madison to be exact) to my Curry House south of Nashville (Brentwood to be exact).

On my way I saw a real Piggly Wiggly! I didn't know those were actual places. I just thought they were a made up name from the movies set in Po-Dunk towns! Here it is!

My touristy thing was to visit former President Andrew Jackson's (7th Pres) mansion called The Hermitage. I spent the entire day wondering what Hermitage meant and am just now looking it up. "The dwelling of a hermit; especially when small and remote". Well...ok Andrew, if that's what you want. Remote...yes...small...no!!! It was 500 acres of farmland! Maybe that wasn't a lot back then, IDK.

The Hermitage had a museum, the mansion, the enslaved persons quarters, a garden, cotton field, stable, cafe, gift shop and a ton of land. It was beautiful. Come to find out Andrew was an orphan at age and rose to become a lawyer, a General, and then President! He had is faults (like being on the side of keeping slavery thinking it was the best way to do business successfully), but he also was known as a man of the people and fought to build and keep democracy as it exists today. Here are some photos of my 4 hour self-guided tour.

Road to the mansion, hidden by a tree-lined path. He made the front entrance far from the road so people could have a good first impression once they actually got to the door. He split the driveway into two so carriages would stop "rushing" up to the front door when they came. "Rushing" meant a whooping 5mph!

Behind all the trees...this is the mansion. Actually, this is the backside, but it looked almost identical as the front.

Some of the grounds. The who structures in the back were his home before he build the mansion. Apparently it was very affluent for the times. Once he moved to the mansion these buildings were passed down to "the enslaved persons". That's what the docents kept saying. No one likes the word slave. It's icky.

This is Rachel Jackson's garden; Andrew's wife. She spent most of her time here in the garden because she didn't like the political stuff. Apparently, they housed almost 20 guests a night as a regular thing. Officials, passing town people, whomever. They slept three to a bed and if room ran out then people would be on pads on the floors and in the halls! What a trip. The tour of inside the mansion was pretty amazing.

All in all I'd suggesting touring The Hermitage if you're in the Nashville area. Lots of history, very pretty.

To wrap up my day and night, I checked into my new Airbnb that smells like curry. I have the entire upstairs to myself and spent the rest of my night reading after I returned from doing laundry at the laundry mat. Apparently the kitchen and laundry did not come as an "amenity" with the stay. I think that's a little weird. I had to ask the owner for a fork and I felt awkward being near the "off limits" kitchen. Oh well...they can't all be winners. The bed rocks and I napped earlier.

Good night everyone! I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring. I'm thinking of going to downtown Franklin which is supposed to be really, really cute. Maybe I'll try to find a pool for swimming. I miss swimming so much!

If I dream of curry I'm going to crack up!
XO,
Kel

RT - Day 15 (My Visit to Ramsey Solutions)

You guys! I didn't take ANY PICTURES AT RAMSEY SOLUTIONS! What!?!??! Not one picture! I don't know what happened.

I met up with my FPU Coordinator Rep, Chris, and he gave me this totally awesome private tour around the building. I got to go in the back and see where everyone worked. He knew everyone's names and when we walked by he introduced me. It was like I was doing an orientation or something. Everyone was so nice and happy and smiling. I could see myself as part of that team. It just oozed support and joy and inspiration.

I didn't get to see Dave's radio show, but I might go in tomorrow to watch. If I do, Chris said he'd meet me again. He also offered to be a reference for me if I ever decided to apply. So nice!

By the time I got back to quiet house with a few little groceries I decided to do something normal to my life and go see a movie. The theatre was almost the back side of the Grand Ole Opry and there was sooo much parking all over the place!

Okay...for as cheap gas is here, they make it up with movie tickets! It was $13.50 for a dang movie! I saw "Hunter Killer" and it was really, really good. There were a total of four people in the theatre...haha. I don't know why, this movie was great! I'd see it again for sure.

Here's my face again...

Okay, time for my squeaky bed. :-)

XO,
Kel

RT - Day 14 (My Day in Nashville)

WARNING!

I'm going to throw a lot of pictures your way on this one with some captions. Here's what my day looked like though:

10:15am - Meditation at Center for Spiritual Living Nashville
10:45am - Church
1:15pm - Visit Ramsey Solutions building
2:00pm - Barista Parlor downtown Nashville
3:00pm - Relax in park across the river from downtown Broadway and close my eyes in the sun
3:45pm - Luke Bryan bar downtown Nashville
7:00pm - The 5 Spot for soul music Sundays
9:00pm - Return to the quiet house

This one is to be finished later...no pictures right now...I'm tired and ready for my squeaky bed. I'm visiting the Ramsey Studio tomorrow!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)
Kel

Ok I'm back...here are the pics in order above...ish.

Music was AMAZING! Of course. The sermon was about finding your gift, developing it, and sharing it with the world.

I'm here! Four years ago I started listening to this program and haven't looked back. This is a Sunday drive by.

Employee back entrance...maybe for me one day?!?!? Who knows....I do look good there though! LOL

Made it to downtown Nashville - Broadway Street! I turned the corner and the roar of music and laughter literally filled the air all around! One street over I didn't hear anything, then I turn the corner and BOOM! It was intoxicating!

The is downtown Broadway Street from across the river where I took a little rest on a park lawn. I could hear the roar of the people from across the river as clear as a bell. Middle of the day and people are going nuts!

Finally time for some lunch downtown into the chaos! Luke Bryan's restaurant was the second sign I saw for food and drinks and I jumped on it. The live music was great. The dude on the left was CRAZY talented! I could've listened to him all day.

I'm smiling because I finally ate. LOL. It was 3:00pm and I hadn't had breakfast!

Finished up the evening at a place called The 5 Spot. Tonight they were doing their Soul Music Sunday and had A. Rose and her band playing. They were also amazing! She is a STAR for sure. The pianist looked to be about 18 years old, but he rocked the hell out of the keys and I could have listened to a concert with just him. I talked to him after and he said he's trying to make it in Nashville, but spots are hard to come by so he's moving to L.A. Good luck Bud!

After all my adventures of the day I was exhausted. I was able to FaceTime with my beautiful sister for a bit and that made me really happy. She showed me sleeping Morgan and it took all my energy not to yell out, "Hi Momo!!!! It's Auntie!!!" I love being Auntie. :-) I might end up being Auntie Kelly, but I'm digging Auntie just fine.

Good night y'all!
Kels

RT - Day 13 (Arkansas to Tennessee)

Goodbye Arkansas!

I was sad to see Little Rock go! I really liked it there. My drive into Tennessee and through Memphis all the way to Nashville remained beautiful and lush. Okay...not the greatest picture, but it gives the idea of how much space there is.

And then came Memphis...which felt EXACTLY like a mini San Francisco...and I'm not a fan of San Francisco. It just never grew on me as a place I'd like to go back to repeatedly. Memphis was like that! It even looked similar which was kinda weird. I drove in to get a sandwich at some place that said they made good sandwiches and then drove out! I just blew 30 minutes driving to and around Memphis. I was glad to have it in my rearview. I know I'll be back through on my way back to CA, but only for Graceland. I'll do Graceland and hit the road again.

I hit the next exit for a Jersey Mike's sub and got my first ma'am from the girl behind the counter with the slight southern drawl. I liked it! OMG...I'm getting old.

Back on the road and getting closer to Nashville two things became present:
1. There is a lot of white trash
2. Jesus and XXX Superstores

White trash...not as in trashy people with white skin, but literally white trash all on the side of the freeway. I'm thinking, "What, do these people go crazy for Kleenex or something? What is all this?" Turns out...COTTON! Cotton fields started showing up. Not totally lining the freeways or anything, but I would see one or two within each mile or so. They were mostly hidden behind the row of tall trees on the freeway. Here's a field. It was pretty. Blanketed on the other side of the freeway.

Okay...to the one person who is actually reading this blog, you're probably wondering about the Jesus/XXX thing. Even if you're not, I'm going to tell you. And I can be pretty open because it's just you and you already know me so here it goes...

Once I hit Oklahoma I started seeing signs like JESUS IS COMING, and JESUS IS REAL (with the evolution monkey to man picture with an "X" through it), and WHICH SIDE WILL YOU END UP ON? (with little pictures of heaven and hell as possible choices). I was laughing out loud because it seemed so accosting! Like, "Hey people, you've got a long drive here, you should spend some time thinking about Jesus). I saw about 8-10 signs like that.

Simultaneously, I was also accosted with XXX Superstore AHEAD signs! Hahaha! About 4-5 of those! LOL!!!!! Those signs were like, "Yea, you do have a lot of time and you could spend it thinking about Jesus, or you could spend it thinking about SEX! Which sounds more fun?) Personally, I really like the idea of an adult superstore. I mean, where else are these country people supposed to buy their pleasure toys and porn and stuff if they're trying to avoid email and spam and all that. It's not like some sex store in Podunk Town is going to be thriving. Then again...you never know...there's not much to do in those kinds of towns. If the XXX signs were not so ragged and looked like they represented a rundown barn business, I might have stopped out of curiosity. The first adult superstore I patroned was in Seattle with my best friend. We walked in and were like, "Holy shit, they have everything here!" I didn't know what half the stuff was for and too shy to venture too far in. It wasn't creepy or gross though, it was really clean and professional and the sales people didn't give one flinch to whatever people were buying. If you have never been in a Kiss n' Tell in Cali then I suggest you make that your next date night. Who knows what flames could be ignited! :-)

Okay...so now I'm in Nashville and greeted with a beautiful sunset.

This sunset came after I was kicked out of my original Airbnb though. The quick story on that is...
I checked in with Ben and got settled; Ben left to do his Lyft stuff; a knock on the door was the owner who said Ben wasn't allowed to Airbnb his place and I needed to leave. She was really smiley about the whole thing with her southern accent, but I felt bad for Ben. He came back and helped me move my stuff out again while the woman sat in her car outside watching us.

I got refunded and selected a comparable place (of which I write from now), but it's not nearly as good as Ben's place. It's too dark in here...and quiet. I have music on super low and am afraid to cough too loudly. Also...they have a 1 year old they didn't mention on their post. She's cute, but I wasn't expecting the baby thing. Now I'm just trying not to make noise to wake the baby or anything. Water pressure sucks!!! Feels like camping. The bed is sooo creeky that I swear to God it sounds like thunder every time I sit down or roll over. I'm gunna wake that fucking baby!! I know it!!!

Good part, Ben and I are friends now, because he's really cool, and tonight we went out for beer and wings at a nearby sports bar and talked about his woes and my journey. I had a good time and am bummed it didn't work out with staying at his place. His ex-girlfriend (well, baby mama to be exact) is the one who called the HOA on him. WTF! That's messed up.

Tomorrow I'm exploring Nashville and looking forward to it! I'm liking what I see already. :-) Not including the quiet, dark house with no pressure and my squeaky bed. LOL

XO,
Kel

RT - Day 12 (Oklahoma to Arkansas)

This morning I said goodbye to new travelling nurse friend, Jackie. She will stay two more months in OKC, then home to Alabama for a month before they move to Hawaii for the next few years! I can't believe she's 47! She looks great. Bye Jacks!!!

I really enjoyed my drive on I-40 from Oklahoma to Arkansas. The split freeway was lined with a full, mature forest of season-changing trees. It didn't even feel like I was on a freeway at all. It felt like a county road...a really big county road. There's something about being separated from oncoming traffic that is disarming and makes a long drive more relaxing. Still on alert, of course, but not so intense.

I-40 - A large grass median, usually I couldn't see the other side.

Mature, changing trees rolling the hills.

What I didn't notice until I left Oklahoma...there were no homes! I couldn't see any anyway. Even with the little gas station towns I passed there weren't many visible homes, or lakes actually. Once I crossed into Arkansas it was BOOM, houses and ponds all over the place! Same beautiful and large trees ALL OVER!

Hello Arkansas!

So far, driving through Arkansas has been my favorite. I loved driving in Salt Lake City because of the gorgeous parks and charm, but the before and after lacked in trees...and if you can't tell by now...I love trees! LOL. If I have to spend my time in the car, I'd like to be looking at something pretty.

I was also greeted to Arkansas by the presence of a poor, dead armadillo...Arkansas road kill. I have never seen an armadillo so I stared at it as long as I could in passing...gross. But they are so interesting looking. I'm looking one up right now......hold please...….

Here it is...yup...that's what I saw...

I'm going to go check out Little Rock and see if there's anything I'd like to do on this Friday night.

Bye ya!
Kel

RT - Day 11 (My Day in OKC)

Howdy cowboys and cowgirls!

It was pretty raining for the first part of the day so I kind of had a morning set back. I woke up, showered, dressed, meditated, undressed, and went back to bed for a nap. Hahaha! So my breakfast turned into lunch.

I drove around the city today humming "Home on the Range" once I saw my first buffalo sculpture in the downtown Oklahoma City area. They were all over and painted beautifully.

Okay...let's get right to it...this city completely lacks in any kind of continuity. If fact, the only thing it has in common are the cracked and uneven roads! It was so interesting. I'd be driving down one road and see all different buildings, one after the other that looked like they had their own thing going on. I'm gunna upload a bunch to show you in a sec. Also, there are 13 different districts!! No wonder OKC felt so awkward.

Here they are:
Adventure District
Arts District
Asian District
Automobile Alley
Boathouse District
Bricktown
Deep Deuce
Midtown
Plaseo Art District
Plaza District
Stockyard City
Uptown 23rd
Western Avenue

And here are some of the different buildings. I would LOVE to have gone on an architecture tour to hear about some of these and where their uniqueness came from. Keep scrolling... :-) The first three were literally right next to each other on the street. I took a pic as I drove down this one block.

Pretty

 

Ugly

Warehouse

Madona's Bra?

 

Spikey

 

I also went to the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum. The museum was well organized in how we flowed through that terrible day in OKC on April 19, 1995. They had video testimonials of survivors, rescuers and the general public who rushed to the scene to help. The last floor of the museum was all about bringing hope and life back to OKC and remembering how Americans came together in tragic times. It was pretty great. The grounds were clean and projected a calming feeling. Another beautiful memorial. Proud to be an American. :-)

Oh! And I passed a Kelley Club and drove down Kelley Street. Apparently they really love me here! And I love their gas prices!! Hahahahaha! Me and the gas!!! Today it was $2.25 people...$2.25! I just can't get over it. Unless you haven't figured it out yet...I'll be reporting on gas, landscape and city character during my trip. Oh, and the food I eat. LOL. Yesterday I ate at this place called Brauns that's supposed to have amazing ice-cream and burgers. Nope to both. Yuck. The ice-cream was so grainy I actually threw it away! Ok, I ate half and then threw the rest away.

Have a great night! I'm off to Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow. Here's my face!
XO
Kel

RT - Day 10 (Kansas to Oklahoma)

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A....Oklahomaaaaaa...O-K!

Who sang that in their head as they were reading it???? :-) It brings back memories of watching old musicals with my sister and grandma. I swear, we must have watched four or five during each weekend we were there. Come to think of it, it's probably part of why I was drawn to show-pop choir and musical theatre.

Driving through the middle of Kansas actually ended up being a lot more beautiful than it began. I didn't get many pics of the vibrant greens and yellows so this is as good as it gets...

Oklahoma brought fewer trees and more wind. It was pretty uneventful actually. I was wrapped up in my book on tape. This time he fashioned a Danish accent and one of a sixteen year old girl. :-) I think it'd be harder than it seems to be a book on tape reader.

Anyway...I got to my new Airbnb and it was like I stepped into Hipville! Everything here is so cool and fashionable! Me and my stretchy yoga pants feel underdressed. Hahaha! The host is totally hip and has piercings and blue hair that look like he stepped out of a magazine. There is another woman (a travelling nurse) staying in the second room and she has been here for two months already and is staying through December. The life of a travelling nurse must be crazy. We got along instantly...and the most important thing I think she wanted me to know about herself is how much she loooooves shopping at Ross. LOL! Apparently she and my host both love Ross and that's like their thing. I think it's sweet.

I'm listening to the rain outside my bedroom window and enjoying my night in. After two days of driving my butt has gone from round and plump to flat and numb. It's definitely time for some horizontal tonight and some vertical tomorrow.

Besos, everyone!
Kel

RT - Day 9 (Colorado to Kansas)

Goodbye Colorado!

So Colorado, in general, has this one side that is just beautiful, and then you turn around and it's a flat grid with minimal character. Turn back...beauty...turn around...flat. The second I left the outskirts of Denver I was looking at this...all the way to Kansas.

 

Then a quick goodbye from Colorado as they reminded us, "Hey! Don't forget we do have trees near the Rockies! Don't forget our beauty!"

 

The sign said "Leaving Colorful Colorado"
Those were the only full sized trees around. :-)

Now the drive through Kansas. There were two parts to my drive worth noting:

 

1. I finally started my murder mystery book on tape and got hooked. It's getting better as the story goes on. It is funny though when the author starts to talk like a black man when he's clearly a white guy. It's like he half commits to the jive lingo just enough to get the spirit of the character across, but not enough to offend listeners. LOL. At least that's my take. Then when he talks in a female character's tone it's softer and a little prissy. Again...funny to hear how he interprets the character's voice.

2. I got a text from a guy I sparked with a couple weeks ago, but had to delete his number because I was afraid I'd come on too strong. OMG...you guys know me...I always come on a little strong. Haha! I don't walk into a room and sit in the corner by myself (well, only if something is wrong...and you all know right away anyway so I might as well just get over it). I love you guys.

 

Okay...

1. I already said all I wanted about that.

2. So this guy. Life is so funny and crazy. The night before I met him I was talking to the Universe as I was falling asleep and saying something like, "Universe, I'm not desperate, I just want to know that there is someone out there for me. I want to have my faith in my ability to connect with someone restored. I need my heart to feel excitement for the possibility of romance. Please help." Next day, I saw this cute guy at the pool and purposefully didn't go talk to him because I was making space for the Universe to move and not for me to bulldoze! Anyway, he ended up striking up a conversation and it turns out, that was one of the best conversations with a man I'd had in a while. Probably years. It didn't even matter that he was super handsome (AMAZING smile) and actually asked me questions about myself. We had travel and bites of life in common and when he asked for my number and left I knew I got my answer. My faith in my heart's ability to spark with someone was restored. I ended that great day with the hope I would meet him again, but the grateful feeling for having had my heart stir again. People pass through our lives at just the right time. He passed through mine and I am happy he did. Long story long...I had deleted his number so as not to be too desperate. I thought, hey, if this man is interested then he'll reach out. If not, then that's okay. He gave me a gift without even knowing it. When he texted today...well...I don't need to go into any of that. The point is, life is funny and lovely, and confusing and wonderful, and I think it's crazy how someone we hardly know and just meet can have such impacts in our lives. They don't all have to be big impacts to be noteworthy. So...thank you handsome man from the pool for being you. :-)

 

I checked into my adorable Airbnb where the host put my name on the welcome sign! So cute!

 

 

And then...Kansas had a moment...and it was lovely.

 

 

Good night my sweet friends and family. I love you all! Thank you for impacting my life in all the best ways. I'm so lucky! Truly.

 

XO,

Kel

RT - Day 8 (Rocky Mountain National Park)

Let's talk about this first....

HELLO!?!?!?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?!?!? My 90 year old travelling companion, Joy, may have been getting a little tired of me saying, "Oh my god! $2.73! I can't believe it!" Eventually she just stopped responding to my continued and renewed shock and enthusiastic cries every time we passed a gas station. Hahaha! :-)

Now, let's talk about this majesty...



Rocky Mountain National Park

HELLO!?!?!?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?!?!? I took that with my camera phone!!!!!

Dear family - This photo, framed, is what I'd like for Christmas. Maybe something for the bathroom or to be hung at the front door so I can see it every day when I leave my house to remind me of the incredible beauty of the world. ~ Thank you, Kelly

Joy and I spent the day in the Rocky Mountain National Park. At the entrance to the park we were greeted by a Park Ranger who desperately needed a hug! A really big Kelly hug! He actually rolled his eyes at us a few times when we said we just wanted a $25 day pass and not an $80 senior lifetime pass. I guess the thought of looking at a senior without a senior pass just got his goat. Either way, we got in and enjoyed the scenery.

Right off the bat we pulled off (okay...I kinda just stopped in the middle of the road and let cars go around me) because there was this beautiful elk just munching away on grass like six feet from us! 20 feet up the road was another one who had like eight points and was scratching his antlers on the thin, but sturdy reeds at the base of a tree. He was in elk heaven! It reminded me of how I feel when I use on of those extendable back scratchers shaped like a little hand for the hard to reach places. Sooo good. :-) I wanted to take a pic, but Joy said we'd see a lot more and let's not just be stopped in the middle of the road anymore. Well...we didn't see another elk. Hahaha! We laughed about that later.

We made it to a place called Sprague Lake, parked, meditated next to the creek while sharing a little blanket I brought, then I walked around the lake. It was just under a mile and the walkway was perfectly groomed for leisurely walkers. A third of the lake was still frozen. I threw a rock and it just bounced along the ice.

We got home, had dinner and then played cards for about an hour. I won every hand of Gin except for her one win. When she laid down the cards her hand looked perfect and then this random eight slid out between the four twos!!! Hahaha! We were cracking up. Okay, it doesn't sound that funny, but it was funny to us.

I never went back into the hot tub at the house, but I will remember it and the entire stay with my sweet and spirited friend Joy.

Thank you Joy, Susie, John for letting me stay in your home for these four days. It felt like home to me.

XO,
Kelly

PS - Dinner was a very delicious homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese was Velveeta...something else I've never had. Apparently, there isn't actually cheese in Velveeta. Susie said she talked to a guy who worked for the company and there is no cheese, hardly any milk and is pretty much an edible polymer that melts really well. Dude!!! We use polymers for the water treatment process at the water treatment plants. So that's like slapping some cheese flavor on some goop and calling it food! Hahaha! Gross...and unfortunately yummy in grilled cheese sandwiches.

RT - Day 7 (Visiting Old Childhood Friends)

Hey there!

Today was pretty great and really tiring. I met up with some old family friends I haven't seen in 25 years and there was A LOT of chatting and catching up. I've been on this trip and not talked that extensively with anyone for a while. Usually just me and my car and the music. Five hours later I wondered why I felt drained...LOL!

I'm so happy for these wonderful women and how their lives turned out. They are all successful, happily married with one kiddo each and living near family. The visit was perfect.

Tomorrow with either be a day in Denver or to the Rocky Mountains Park. Either way, I get beautiful views while driving around town. Even in traffic...you just look to the left or right and there are the Rockies!

XO,
Kel

RT - Day 6 (My Day in Boulder)

Good evening!

As promised...a picture of the hot tub and the Rockies. What a way to start the day!

Joy and I cruised around downtown Boulder today. We were out and about for seven hours, which is a full and busy day for a 90 year old! It was fun. Talking with Joy is so easy. We ate lunch at a hipster café called Tangerine. I had an overpriced breakfast sandwich. Hey...not all my meals can be OMG worthy!

Then we went to downtown Boulder in their outdoor shopping center with store after store of artsy and crafty things. Neither of us are big shoppers so we went to the few places that looked interesting and then booked it out of the crowds. My perfect shopping buddy...someone who doesn't really like to shop. :-)

I saw and ad for "A Star Is Born" and asked Joy if she liked movies. Apparently Joy hasn't been to a movie theatre in years and LOVES going to the show. So we went and I LOVED the movie! The music was so fantastic. I'm definitely buying the soundtrack to that puppy. If you haven't seen it yet and you enjoy music and dramas and love stories I suggest you go. Oh yea...we had an hour to kill beforehand so we knocked back a beer in the courtyard bar for a bit. Another cute bartender. LOL! I swear...I've had more alcohol on this trip then I've had in ages! I'm drinking like a beer or two a day! That's a lot for me. I get even more verbally inappropriate and frisky when I've had a little too much.

Suzie made tacos back at home and then we chilled out and watched the classic, "Hocus Pocus". Love that movie!

Boulder was cute and I enjoyed the downtown area. I heard Boulder was more beautiful than Denver and I've built up Denver to be amazingly gorgeous in my mind. All the pictures of the surrounding mountains fill my head. I think I need to get more of a feel for Denver and the surrounding areas to see if this might be a place of future opportunity for me. So far it's more of a grid-city than I was expecting. We'll see how the rest of the time plays out.

I'm loving staying in a place that feels homey. I'm off to bed in my cool Colorado room where I leave the window open all night to have the breeze. You all know how I feel about circulating air! Gotta have it!

Sleep tight!!
Kel

RT - Day 5 (Grand Junction, CO to Denver, CO)

Okay listen...before I talk about my day, let me just go back to last night to Grand Junction and the beer that was warm in my belly. I drank that beer at a pizza and bar place in town that also served cookies and spider gummies in their cocktails. That's no the point though. The point is...I need a boyfriend. I need a man! Bad! The bartender was a STUD...a ginger STUD at that. He was like 40, single, owned a few bars in Cali and just moved (3 weeks ago) to sleepy, but beautiful GJ. If I were not rolling through town this is the type of man I would give my number to. Not like he asked (even though he was saying all that flirty man stuff), but I would have anyway. He was delicious. However, I was driving back to my Airbnb...to my cold bed...alone...lol...and was like, "WTF Kelly! You can't judge the proper flirt scale with people you tip?! That's like paying for sex and actually believing that the person is into you! Hahaha! So anyway...I thought too much about someone I thought I sparked with for a hour and that just confirms...I need a man! When I come back, I'm expecting every single on of you readers to set me up on a blind date with an eligible bachelor. You wanna keep me in the state...send some Johns my way. ;) Just tell them I have all the right "bigs" (boobs, butt, humor, heart). Hahahahahaha!

Back to today.

What a difference a day makes? No...what a different a tree makes! It's like I stepped into an Ansel Adams photograph! Every few minutes I'd literally say out loud….to no one at all..."Hello! Are you seeing this? Who is seeing this? Oh my God!" I wish I had a better camera.

In all fairness to my iPhone though...these were taken from the passenger seat window...while I was driving... Parents - do not read this... My trick is, I see a view coming up, say my out loud words to no one, roll up the driver's window, roll down the passenger's window, move to the "slow" lane, lock my phone sideways in a death grip between my hand and fingers (which are really, freakishly strong for some reason), then make sure there aren't cars around, lean WAAAAYYY over to my right and take five pictures really fast so as not to get the car window in the frame. Hello?!?!?!?! If I had a real camera and was like, standing on the ground, I could be a professional! :-)

Speaking of driving - and I can't believe I'm about to put this in writing - everyone drives so fast here!! LOL!!! I KNOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST SAID THAT!!!! I'm usually the one who passes people going 70-75, but these crazies are going 85 and 90 just on their way to work! When the speed limit dropped to 65 in a few areas I felt relief in my shoulders. Then there was this totally adorable sign that kept popping up...

DON'T FORGET TO BUCKLE UP!
LOVE, MOM & DAD

No shit though, these Colorado peeps are speed demons!

Let's fast forward to something sweeter...Mother Nature. Wow...I mean it. My drive was so breathtaking today. All around me the mountains were colors of red and browns with yellow and green trees lining the river and these little nugget-like towns. To put it poetically, it was like Mother Nature decided upon this gorgeous landscape and the mountains all got together and decided they would share the space with us. They would open up just enough room to allow these little, sleepy towns to spring up along the Colorado River for peaceful living and views that remain unchallenged. It was my privilege to experience this part of our country's landscape.

I took those while driving too. ;) Eek!

Today wrapped up perfectly. I was able to have a quick hug and hello with an old family friend (who I'll see again on Sunday), and then up to the outskirts of Boulder to meet and stay with another family friend, Joy. I'll be here for the next 3-4 nights. I love Joy. She is 90 and still a spitfire! Plus, we both like cards and we both like puzzles (lol) so we're going to get a long just perfectly. And there's a hot tub that overlooks the freakin' Rocky Mountains!!! I'll take that picture tomorrow. Standing outside...not driving. And of the mountains...not me in the hot tub. ;)

Love you all!
Kel